Kellie Wright Case

Understanding Attentional Blink

Kellie Wright

PSY363 A04

October 18, 2014

Abstract

In this paper I will define attentional blink and how it relates to attention. I will analyze how the time variation affects the identity of the second target letter and explain how attentional blink can be eliminated. I will give examples of two other targets that could be used to induce attentional blink and suggest the outcome that these targets would have on the duration of one's attentional blink compared to the CogLab activity. I will also present three occupations in which attentional blink could be hazardous, and describe the problems or mistakes that may occur in each occupation due to attentional blink. I will discuss the heads-up display and whether I believe this was a good idea, as well as discus the attentional blink and divided attention associated with HUD.

Attentional blink occurs when a person fails to recognize a target letter being flashed in quick

succession of other letters on a computer screen. The letters are flashed one after the other, about

ten seconds apart. The longer a person watches these letters the harder it is to identify the target

letter. The person becomes distracted or their eyes become tired, and the brain seems to be

unable to identify the target letter more frequently. I believe that the faster the letters are flashed,

as well as the length of time they are presented affects the probability of seeing the second target

letter. During the CogLab activity it seemed to last for an extended period of time and as it

continued I realized my ability to pick out the second target letter was decreasing. I focused but

my attention began to drift, mainly wondering how long the exercise was going to continue.

The variation in time can greatly influence the ability to pick out the second target letter.

When beginning the CogLab exercise the letters were flashing quickly, but at a pace where I

could still recognize each letter. As the exercise continued, the time between the letters also

increased. I was then realizing I was unable to recognize about half of the letters, but felt

somewhat certain if the K or the J had been presented. Eventually the time between letters

increased to a rapid procession and I was uncertain whether either letter had flashed on the

screen. Several times I was so uncertain that I just pressed the space bar without choosing. This

is when I believe I was experiencing attentional blink most prominently and started wishing for

the exercise to end.

Attentional blink can be eliminated by making the second target letter a different color such

as red. In doing so, the second letter grabs the attention because it stands out more than

the others and is recognized more easily. In an experiment performed by Choi & Wantanabe

(2009) they stated that "during training T2 was spotlighted red while T1 and all letters were

white, thus drawing attention to T2" (p.1). The results of this study was that attentional blink can

be eliminated and that the results last for several months.

Two other targets that could be used to induce attentional blink would be a series of numbers

and a series words. I think the numbers would induce attentional blink fairly quickly due to the

lack of interest a person would take in identifying numbers. Watching a bunch of numbers flash

quickly on a screen would become boring and I know for me I would become bored and tired

and become distracted. My thoughts would begin to wonder just as they did in the exercise

identifying the target letter. In using a series of words, I believe that attention would last longer,

because it takes concentration to read a word and then to process what that word means. In the

CogLab exercise I missed the J much more than I missed seeing the K. It seems to me that the K

is easier to recognize, and I think I missed the J more often because of that as well as the

speed. The letters were flashing so quickly that it became unable for me to recognize them.

One occupation that could induce attentional blink is an assembly line worker. These workers

must stand or sit throughout the workday and assemble the piece they are responsible for to a

part that has worked itself down the line of different people responsible for different parts of the

item. The reason the occupation of an assembly line worker may induce attentioanl blink is

because the job they perform is so repetitious. They may become bored and in a hurry to end

their day of an unexciting job, and therefore miss the fact that the part affixed before them is

broken or assembled wrong. They also may misassemble the part they are putting on. Also a

reason for risk of attentional