Express Attentional Re-Engagement but Delayed Entry into Consciousness Following Invalid Spatial Cues in Visual Search

Brisson, Benoit; Jolicœur, Pierre · 2008 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003967

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Summary

This study investigates the specific stage in the visual processing stream where predictive spatial cues accelerate reaction times (RTs). While it is established that cues enhance early sensory-perceptual processing (indexed by P1/N1 amplitude increases), it remains unclear whether this enhancement translates into faster processing latencies at the stage of visual selection or later. The authors aimed to determine if the RT advantage in valid trials arises from accelerated visual selection, accelerated transfer to visual short-term memory (VSTM), or processes occurring thereafter. The researchers employed a predictive spatial cueing paradigm with 16 participants. Trials involved a cue indicating the likely target location, followed by a target and a distractor. Valid trials (75%) presented the target at the cued location, while invalid trials (25%) presented it elsewhere. Participants performed a speeded discrimination task. To isolate the neural correlates of visual selection and VSTM, the authors measured two lateralized event-related potential (ERP) components: the N2pc (reflecting visual selection) and the sustained posterior contralateral negativity (SPCN, reflecting VSTM and conscious report). Crucially, the study included "no-target" trials to estimate and subtract cue-related attentional activity, ensuring that N2pc and SPCN measures were not contaminated by early P1/N1 effects. Behavioral results confirmed that RTs were significantly shorter for valid trials (685 ms) than invalid trials (714 ms), with no difference in accuracy. Electrophysiologically, the P1 amplitude was larger contralateral to the cued side, confirming early attentional deployment. However, the onset latency of the N2pc was unaffected by cue validity, indicating that attentional re-engagement at the uncued location in invalid trials was express and quasi-instantaneous. In contrast, the SPCN onset latency was delayed in invalid trials compared to valid trials. This SPCN latency delay correlated significantly with the behavioral RT costs. The findings demonstrate that the RT benefits of spatial cueing do not stem from accelerated visual selection, as indexed by the N2pc. Instead, the acceleration occurs at or before the transfer of information into visual short-term memory, as indexed by the SPCN. Since the SPCN is associated with conscious report, the results imply that entry into consciousness is delayed following invalid cues. This dissociation clarifies that while attention can shift locations rapidly, the subsequent processing required for conscious awareness and decision-making is where the temporal cost of invalid cues manifests.

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• attention selective divided