Alpha, beta: the rhythm of the attentional blink

Shapiro, K. L., Hanslmayr, S. , Enns, J. T. and Lleras, A. (2017) Alpha, beta: the rhythm of the attentional blink. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 24(6), pp. 1862-1869. (doi: 10.3758/s13423-017-1257-0) (PMID:28271390)

Abstract

Extant theories of the attentional blink propose that the most critical factor in determining second target accuracy is the time that elapses between the first and second targets. We report that this conclusion has overlooked an equally important determinant, namely, the frequency of the entraining stream in which these targets are embedded. Specifically, we show in two experiments that the signature of the attentional blink—second target accuracy that increases with intertarget lag—is significantly larger for entraining streams that are in the alpha-beta frequency range, relative to streams that are slower (theta) or faster (gamma). This finding ties the attentional blink critically, for the first time, to these two prominent oscillation frequencies that are known to be involved in the control of human attention and consciousness.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research was supported by the following research granting agencies: KL Shapiro (Human Frontiers of Science Programme); JT Enns (NSERC Discovery Grant, Canada and Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Western Australia); Simon Hanslmayr (German Research Foundation, DFG HA5622/1-1).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hanslmayr, Professor Simon
• Authors: Shapiro, K. L., Hanslmayr, S., Enns, J. T., and Lleras, A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Psychonomic Bulletin and Review
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 1069-9384
• ISSN (Online): 1531-5320
• Published Online: 07 March 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Psychonomic Bulletin and Review 24(6): 1862-1869
• Publisher Policy: reproduced under a Creative Commons License