Lack of sleep and covert orienting of attention
article
16 University students performed 20 minute watchkeeping sessions in which at irregular intervals between 6 and 24 secs either a centrally or a peripherally located signal was presented. During a session the central location was continuously fixated. Experimental variables were signal probability at either location (1.0-0.8-0.5-0.2-0), time-of-test (morning, afternoon), time-on-task (first vs second 10 min period) and sleep state (normal vs one night of sleep loss). As usual the effect of sleep loss was generally stronger during the afternoon and during the second half of a session. In addition the effect was stronger on reactions to peripheral than to central signals, irrespective of probability. This argues against a resource strategy theory, which assumes that sleep loss affects the strategy of allocating more attention resources to the most probable location by levelling the allocation priorities. The results are consistent with a resource volume theory, which assumes a reduction of resource supply for active analysis of input and maintenance of preparation. In addition, the results show a regular costs-benefit function for central signals and a complete absence of costs-benefit trade-off for peripheral signals. This is discussed in the context of Posner's (1980) notions on covert orienting of attention.
TNO Identifier
5648
Source
Acta Psychologica, 52(1-2), pp. 137-145.
Pages
137-145
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