Distractor Ignoring: Strategies, Learning, and Passive Filtering

Abstract

Our sensory environments contain more information than we can process, and successful behaviors require the ability to separate task-relevant information from task-irrelevant information. Much research on attention has focused on the mechanisms that result in selection of desired information, but much less is known about how distracting information is ignored. Here, we describe evidence that strategic, learned, and passive information can all contribute to better distractor ignoring. The evidence suggests that there are multiple ways in which distractor ignoring is supported, and these ways may be different from those of target selection. Future work will need to identify the mechanisms by which each source of information adjusts attentional priority such that irrelevant information is better ignored.

Inhibition in selective attention

“…It is currently actively debated whether distractor inhibition is under similar flexible top-down control as target facilitation and depends on representation in working memory. 6,9,14 A large body of work shows a close relationship between selective attention and visual working memory, such that attention is directed toward visual information that is actively represented in working memory. 1,23 Indeed, many studies have demonstrated that the content of working memory automatically biases attention toward matching incoming information, even when that information is known to be detrimental to performance at the current task.…”

“…In this, we dissociate between proposed preparatory mechanisms that suppress distractor features in advance and suppressive mechanisms that come about in response to distracting sensory input . While the long‐standing view has been that inhibition of distracting or irrelevant sensory information is under direct, volitional control similar to attention to goal‐relevant aspect of the environment, it is becoming increasingly clear that suppression is not under direct top‐down control and can be implemented via a multitude of underlying mechanisms, each tuned to specific circumstances . Recent behavioral studies, for example, have shown that the ability to ignore distracting information often strongly depends on learning based on previous experiences with the distracting information .…”

“…Recent behavioral studies, for example, have shown that the ability to ignore distracting information often strongly depends on learning based on previous experiences with the distracting information . Yet, what factors determine the ability to inhibit distractor information and which specific set of neural mechanisms arise under different circumstances remain topics of active debate …”

“…7,10,13 While the long-standing view has been that inhibition of distracting or irrelevant sensory information is under direct, volitional control similar to attention to goal-relevant aspect of the environment, it is becoming increasingly clear that suppression is not under direct top-down control and can be implemented via a multitude of underlying mechanisms, each tuned to specific circumstances. 6,9,14 Recent behavioral studies, for example, have shown that the ability to ignore distracting information often strongly depends on learning based on previous experiences with the distracting information. 15,16 Yet, what factors determine the ability to inhibit distractor information and which specific set of neural mechanisms arise under different circumstances remain topics of active debate.…”

“…15,16 Yet, what factors determine the ability to inhibit distractor information and which specific set of neural mechanisms arise under different circumstances remain topics of active debate. 6,9,10,14 In addressing this outstanding issue, we will discuss evidence from key behavioral and neuroimaging studies in humans and some animal studies in light of different ideas on distractor inhibition. 6,9,10,17 The picture that emerges from this is that how the brain deals with distracting information is not simply determined by whether or not information is relevant versus irrelevant to the task at hand, but influenced by many factors, including previous experience with the distracting information (expectations), whether suppression is feature based or space based, target-distractor similarity, the level at which distracting information can be suppressed, and distractor salience.…”