Attentional templates are sharpened through differential signal enhancement, not differential allocation of attention

In visual search, the internal representation of target feature is referred to as attentional template. The template can be broad or precise depending on task requirements. singleton because only colored element in display. a required specific color an array varied colors. To measure precision template, we used cue-target paradigm where cueing benefits decrease when cue differs from color. Consistent with and templates, effects was stronger than search. Measurements ERPs showed that N2pc elicited by decreased increasing difference, suggesting attention more strongly captured cues were similar target. However, cue-elicited did not differ between making it unlikely reflect mechanism underlying precision. Furthermore, there no evidence for suppression PD, even conditions benefit turned into same-location cost. index signal enhancement, contralateral positivity, reflected general, sensory enhancement stimulus appearing at cued location search With any enhanced, whereas restricted target-matching colors templates.