Abstract
Consistent with action-centered models of attention, we have recently shown that movement trajectories deviate toward a distracting cue at short (<100ms) cue-target onset asynchronies (CTOAs) and away from the cue at longer (>750ms) CTOAs. The deviations resemble the facilitatory and inhibitory reaction time (RT) effects seen in similar paradigms using keypress responses (e.g., Posner & Cohen, 1984). The purpose of the present study was to further explore the trajectory deviations at eight CTOAs in a critical range of 100 to 975ms in an effort to examine the time course of these deviations in greater detail. Due to the increased length of this experiment caused by the use of eight CTOAs we used only two target locations in the present study, as opposed to three locations in our earlier work. Analysis of the data from the present study revealed the expected RT effects, with longer RTs to valid cues at CTOAs > 350ms. The expected trajectory deviations were not observed. The absence of trajectory deviations was surprising as these deviations were found using similar CTOAs in our earlier work. It is possible that the absence of trajectory effects resulted from using two, rather than three, target locations. That is, the larger separation between targets or having them in different sides of visual space may have reduced the attention-action link or the degree of completion between competing responses.Acknowledgments: Funding provided by NSERC and Undergraduate Research Opportunity Studentships through the Faculty of Physical Health and Education, University of Toronto