Distractor intrusions are the result of delayed attentional engagement: A new temporal variability account of attentional selectivity in dynamic visual tasks.

When observers must identify targets among distractors in a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) stream, distractor intrusion errors are frequent, demonstrating the difficulty of allocating attention to right object at moment time. However, mechanisms responsible for such remain disputed. We propose new attentional engagement account selective processing RSVP tasks. Engagement is triggered by preattentive detection target-defining features. Critically, success versus failure target identification determined speed processes on individual trials. To test this account, we measured electrophysiological markers (N2pc components) 3 experiments where had report identity digit 1 2 lateral streams. On most trials, was immediately followed distractor, resulting many posttarget intrusions. N2pcs components trials were significantly delayed relative with correct reports. This case regardless whether defined shape cue or its color and even when location shape-defined known advance. These findings show that intrusions result engagement. They demonstrate temporal variability selectivity across can strongly affect awareness perceptual Our offers framework assessing dynamics recognition. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).