Kellie Wright Case
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Understanding Attentional Blink
Kellie Wright
PSY363 A04
October 18, 2014
Abstract
In this paper I will define attentional blink and how it relates to attention. I will analyze how the time variation affects the identity of the second target letter and explain how attentional blink can be eliminated. I will give examples of two other targets that could be used to induce attentional blink and suggest the outcome that these targets would have on the duration of ones attentional blink compared to the CogLab activity. I will also present three occupations in which attentional blink could be hazardous, and describe the problems or mistakes that may occur in each occupation due to attentional blink. I will discuss the heads-up display and whether I believe this was a good idea, as well as discus the attentional blink and divided attention associated with HUD.
Attentional blink occurs when a person fails to recognize a target letter being flashed in quick
succession of other letters on a computer screen. The letters are flashed one after the other, about
ten seconds apart. The longer a person watches these letters the harder it is to identify the target
letter. The person becomes distracted or their eyes become tired, and the brain seems to be
unable to identify the target letter more frequently. I believe that the faster the letters are flashed,
as well as the length of time they are presented affects the probability of seeing the second target
letter. During the CogLab activity it seemed to last for an extended period of time and as it
continued I realized my ability to pick out the second target letter was decreasing. I focused but
my attention began to drift, mainly wondering how long the exercise was going to continue.
The variation in time can greatly influence the ability to pick out the second target letter.
When beginning the CogLab exercise the letters were flashing quickly, but at a pace where I
could still recognize each letter. As the exercise continued, the time between the letters also
increased. I was then realizing I was unable to recognize about half of the letters, but felt
somewhat certain if the K or the J had been presented. Eventually the time between letters
increased to a rapid procession and I was uncertain whether either letter had flashed on the
screen. Several times I was so uncertain that I just pressed the space bar without choosing. This
is when I believe I was experiencing attentional blink most prominently and started wishing for
the exercise to end.
Attentional blink can be eliminated by making the second target letter a different color such
as red. In doing so, the second letter grabs the attention because it stands out more than
the others and is recognized more easily. In an experiment performed by Choi & Wantanabe
(2009) they stated that “during training T2 was spotlighted red while T1 and all letters were
white, thus drawing attention to T2” (p.1). The results of this study was that attentional blink can
be eliminated and that the results last for several months.
Two other targets that could be used to induce attentional blink would be a series of numbers
and a series words. I think the numbers would induce attentional blink fairly quickly due to the
lack of interest a person would take in identifying numbers. Watching a bunch of numbers flash
quickly on a screen would become boring and I know for me I would become bored and tired
and become distracted. My thoughts would begin to wonder just as they did in the exercise
identifying the target letter. In using a series of words, I believe that attention would last longer,
because it takes concentration to read a word and then to process what that word means. In the
CogLab exercise I missed the J much more than I missed seeing the K. It seems to me that the K
is easier to recognize, and I think I missed the J more often because of that as well as the
speed. The letters were flashing so quickly that it became unable for me to recognize them.
One occupation that could induce attentional blink is an assembly line worker. These workers
must stand or sit throughout the workday and assemble the piece they are responsible for to a
part that has worked itself down the line of different people responsible for different parts of the
item. The reason the occupation of an assembly line worker may induce attentioanl blink is
because the job they perform is so repetitious. They may become bored and in a hurry to end
their day of an unexciting job, and therefore miss the fact that the part affixed before them is
broken or assembled wrong. They also may misassemble the part they are putting on. Also a
reason for risk of attentional