Neural mechanisms of learned suppression uncovered by probing the hidden attentional priority map.

ABSTRACT: Attentional capture by an irrelevant salient distractor is attenuated when the distractor appears more frequently in one location, suggesting learned suppression of that location. However, it remains unclear whether suppression is proactive (before attention is directed) or reactive (after attention is allocated). Here, we investigated this using a 'pinging' technique to probe the attentional distribution before search onset. In an EEG experiment, participants searched for a shape singleton while ignoring a color singleton distractor at a high-probability location. To reveal the hidden attentional priority map, participants also performed a continuous recall spatial memory task, with a neutral placeholder display presented before search onset. Behaviorally, search was more efficient when t

SUBMITTER: Huang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11864755 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature