Spatial localization: tests of a two-process model

Abstract

The present study examined the recently proposed two-process model of localization performance in which a shift of attention, providing coarse location information, is followed by a saccadic eye movement, providing fine location information. In experiment 1 the nature of the localization response was manipulated. In contrast to the indirect response mode used in the study by Adam et al., i.e., manipulating the "arrow" keys to move the cursor to the target location, experiment 1 required subjects to point to the target location. The high degree of similarity between the pattern of results obtained with the pointing and cursor response indicated that performance in the localization paradigm was not differentially affected by the nature of the required response. In experiment 2 the characteristics of the backward masking stimulus was manipulated by employing three masking conditions: (1) a long-duration mask; (2) a short-duration mask (100 ms); and (3) a no-mask condition. Results showed that the long-duration mask caused interference at short and facilitation at long intervals between onset of target and mask; the short-duration mask caused interference only at short intervals. Overall the findings were consistent with the two-process model of localization performance.