Abstract:
Accuracy at identifying or detecting a second-target (T2) is reduced if presented within
approximately 500 ms of the first target (TI) - an attentional blink (AB). Affect has
previously been shown to influence the magnitude of the AB such that positive affect
(PA) is associated with smaller ABs. To account for these findings, Olivers and
Nieuwenhuis (2005) proposed an overinvestment hypothesis where P A was said to
reduce overinvestment of attentional resources in TI and distractors, leaving more
resources for T2. In the present study, P3, CNV, and average activation on distracter-only
trials were used to measure attentional investment. The goal was to investigate whether
these electrophysiological measures mediated the relationship between self-reported
affect and the AB. Results demonstrated that investment of attentional resources was not
associated with self-reported affect, or AB magnitude. However, self-report measures of
affect, personality and electrophysiological measures of investment did follow some
predictions derived from the overinvestment hypothesis.
