Question

In a spatial cueing paradigm, the target appears shortly after the cue, and equally often in both cued and uncued locations at random on the left and right sides. Which of the following correctly outlines the type of processing and effect on target detection?

A) Inhibition of return; faster target detection in uncued locations
B) Facilitation; faster target detection in cued locations
C) Automatic processing; equal target detection in both cued and uncued locations
D) Priming; slower target detection in uncued locations

Answer 1

The correct answer is B) Facilitation; faster target detection occurs in cued locations because attention is directed there, enhancing the preparation for processing stimuli in that specific area.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a spatial cueing paradigm, the type of processing and effect on target detection can be described as follows: B) Facilitation; faster target detection in cued locations. This occurs because the cue directs attention to a specific location, increasing the probability that a target appearing in that location will be detected more quickly. Conversely, targets appearing in uncued locations do not benefit from this preparatory attention and are detected at normal speed unless an effect like Inhibition of Return kicks in, which would slow down detection in previously cued locations after a certain period of time.

This paradigm is based on the principle that our cognitive system can be prepared for the processing of sensory information in a specific spatial location. Under normal circumstances, cues can facilitate the detection and processing of stimuli appearing in the attended location. However, if you encounter a term like Inhibition of Return, it refers to the phenomenon where, if a target does not appear in the cued location within a short period of time, the detection of subsequent targets at that location may actually become slower. This is thought to encourage the search of new locations by the cognitive system.