Explain Posner's precuing task. What is the difference between endogenous and exogenous cue condition? What do the results from the two conditions tell us about kinds of attention?

by **Admin** Nie Maj 19, 2013 8:03 pm

by Timrodiek Pią Maj 31, 2013 3:33 pm

Location based: Posner's general idea was to see if presenting a cue, indicating where a test stimulus might appear, enhances the processing of the test stimulus. The participants focused on a "+" in the middle of the screen and a cue was presented, e.g. in the upper-right corner. ( e.g. an arrow) It indicated where they were to shift their attention to (without moving their eyes - covert). The participant's task was then to press a button, as fast they could, when the stimulus appeared. The results showed that participants were faster in doing so when the cue was appropriate to the stimulus location. Posner interpretation was that information processing is more effective at the place where attention is directed.

Endogenous cue: One that involves consciously determined attention. In this case the "arrow"-cue. It is up to you to attend to it and interpret the direction of the arrow.
Exogenous cue: One that concerns automatic attraction of attention by a sudden visual or auditory stimulus. For example, if the cue is a light, lighting up for a brief second. In this case your attention is drawn to it involuntarily, no interpretation necessary.

Posner & Rothbart have identified three different types of attentional processing.
1. Alerting: involves achieving a high sensivity to incoming stimuli -->
2. Orienting: concerns focusing attention where visual target may appear. This occurs both in overt and covert attention. -->
3. Executive: involves controlling attention and occurs for tasks, such as the Stroop or flanker compatability task. -->

Also dividable into:
1. Vigilance: passive, you wait
2. Search: active, scanning the environment for something you expect to find

Explain Posner's precuing task. What is the difference between endogenous and exogenous cue condition? What do the results from the two conditions tell us about kinds of attention?

Explain Posner's precuing task. What is the difference between endogenous and exogenous cue condition? What do the results from the two conditions tell us about kinds of attention?

Re: Explain Posner's precuing task. What is the difference between endogenous and exogenous cue condition? What do the results from the two conditions tell us about kinds of attention?