Niewidzenie zmian jako skutek uwagi intensywnej

Radosław Sterczyński , Joanna Sweklej , Bogusz Woliński

Abstract

The phenomenon of not noticing seemingly salient changes in our perceptual field is surprisingly common. According to most research this change blindness is related to limitations of working memory and focal attention directed towards particular object. According to extensive attention theory (Kolańczyk, this issue) the focus of attention changes from narrow orientation on goal-relevant information in its intensive mode to wide orientation on objects that are relevant to one’s standards in its extensive mode. Extensive attention is dominated largely by bottom-up processing and therefore it should facilitate change detection. The present research focuses on change detection in visual field. We manipulated attention towards its extensive mode using visualization training whereas simple, albeit long, mathematical task was used to intensify attention. In line with expectations, higher change detection rates were observed when attention was extensive as compared to intensive attention state. Therefore we conclude that extensive attention reduces change blindness effect.