Individual differences in dispositional focus of attention predict attentional blink magnitude

Attentional control in the attentional blink is modulated by odor

“…Interestingly, even though more resources were allocated to T1, T1 accuracy did not improve, suggesting that humans may overinvest attentional resources into T1 processing-in turn, impairing T2 performance (Olivers & Nieuwenhuis, 2005Taatgen, Juvina, Schipper, Borst, & Martens, 2009). This overinvestment hypothesis is consistent with findings from other studies on individual differences, which consistently show effects on T2 but not T1 report (e.g., Colzato et al, 2008;Colzato, Spapè, Pannebakker, & Hommel, 2007;Colzato, Slagter, Spapè, & Hommel, 2008;Colzato et al, 2011;Dale & Arnell, 2010;Martens, Munneke, Smid, & Johnson, 2006;Martens & Valchev, 2009).…”

“…The stimulating aroma peppermint is supposed to increase arousal and induce a more focused attentional state, while lavender, a calming olfactory fragrance, is considered to induce relaxation and a broader attentional state (Barker et al, 2003;Basevitch et al, 2011;Ho & Spence, 2005;Ilmberger et al, 2001;Moss, Cook, Wesnes, & Duckett, 2003). Previous studies have looked into the allocation of attention in space, assuming (and showing) that a more focused or distributed state is associated with a smaller and broader spatial focus of attention, respectively (Dale & Arnell, 2010). In this study, we investigated the possibility that odors (peppermint and lavender aromas) affect the allocation of attention in time.…”

A conceptual and methodological framework for measuring and modulating the attentional blink

“…One such approach is to subtract T2 performance at the shorter lags from T2 performance at longer lags (i.e., a difference score). Despite the fact that difference scores cannot be more reliable than the scores that are used to create the difference, several authors have successfully used this approach to predict individual differences in AB magnitude Arnell & Stubitz, 2010;Colzato et al, 2007;Dale & Arnell, 2010;Martens & Johnson, 2009;McLean et al, 2009).…”

“…Specifically, some variables have been shown to predict the lag-dependent impairment that is the AB, but not overall T2 performance. For example, individual differences in extraversion and global precedence (Dale & Arnell, 2010) have been shown to predict AB magnitude but not overall T2 performance. Conversely, individual differences in fluid nonverbal intelligence and response times on various speeded tasks have been shown to predict overall T2 accuracy, but not AB magnitude (Arnell et al, 2006;Colzato et al, 2007).…”

“…9 Two examples depicting interactions of condition or group with lag that are more difficult to interpret as modulations of the AB individual differences in the magnitude of the AB effect has been found (Dale & Arnell, in press;McLaughlin et al, 2001 (Colzato et al, 2010), working memory control Colzato et al, 2007), reading ability (McLean, Stuart, Visser, & Castles, 2009), global/local bias (Dale & Arnell, 2010), resting EEG (MacLean, Arnell, & Cote, 2012), and the ability to keep irrelevant material out of working memory (Arnell & Stubitz, 2010;Dux & Marois, 2009) have all been used to investigate individual differences in AB magnitude. In order to investigate individual differences in the AB using a correlational approach, it is necessary to capture the magnitude of the AB effect for each individual as a single value.…”