Volume 7, Number 14, Article 18, Pages 1-11 doi:10.1167/7.14.18 http://journalofvision.org/7/14/18/ ISSN 1534-7362
Feature-based attention modulates the perception of object contours
Boge Stojanoski
Centre for Computational Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto at Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Matthias Niemeier
Centre for Computational Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto at Scaborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, & Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Abstract

Feature-based attention is known to support perception of visual features associated with early and intermediate visual areas. Here we examined the role of feature-based attention in higher levels of object processing. We used a dual-task design to probe perception of poorly attended contour-defined or motion-defined loops while attention was occupied with congruent or incongruent feature detection tasks. Perception of the unattended task was better when concurrently presented with a congruent stimulus. However, this effect was eliminated when detection of the primary task was made easy suggesting that task-demand in object perception is feature specific. Our results provide evidence for the contribution of feature-based attention to object perception.

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History
Received June 11, 2007; published December 27, 2007
Citation
Stojanoski, B., & Niemeier, M. (2007). Feature-based attention modulates the perception of object contours. Journal of Vision, 7(14):18, 1-11, http://journalofvision.org/7/14/18/, doi:10.1167/7.14.18.
Keywords
feature-based attention, contours, object perception, motion, dual task, RSVP
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