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ERIC Number: EJ884799
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Apr
Pages: 46
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0033-295X
EISSN: N/A
Visual Spatial Attention to Multiple Locations At Once: The Jury Is Still Out
Jans, Bert; Peters, Judith C.; De Weerd, Peter
Psychological Review, v117 n2 p637-682 Apr 2010
Although in traditional attention research the focus of visual spatial attention has been considered as indivisible, many studies in the last 15 years have claimed the contrary. These studies suggest that humans can direct their attention simultaneously to multiple noncontiguous regions of the visual field upon mere instruction. The notion that spatial attention can easily be split is counterintuitive in the light of current neurocognitive models of attention. We examined studies on divided attention against 4 methodological criteria that should be satisfied in order to convincingly demonstrate divided attention, and we found no studies in the current literature that pass this test. On the basis of current theories of attention, we argue that dividing attention may not be easily achievable by naive human observers and that, instead, it is a skill that may be acquired only through training. (Contains 2 footnotes, 1 table, and 9 figures.)
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A