Large inter-individual and intra-individual variability in the effect of perceptual load.

ABSTRACT: This study examined whether the recurrent difficulty to replicate results obtained with paradigms measuring distractor processing as a function of perceptual load is due to individual differences. We first reanalyzed, at the individual level, the data of eight previously reported experiments. These reanalyses revealed substantial inter-individual differences, with particularly low percentage of participants whose performance matched the load theory's predictions (i.e., larger distractor interference with low than high levels of load). Moreover, frequently the results were opposite to the theory's predictions-larger interference in the high than low load condition; and often a reversed compatibility effect emerged-better performance in the incompatible than neutral condition. Subsequently,

SUBMITTER: Marciano H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5391011 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature