| The attentional phenomenon, inhibition of return (IOR), is evaluated in a series of experiments using peripheral visual cues, central visual cues, binaural verbal audio cues, and combinations thereof. Experiments 1a, b, and c tested for IOR using the cues individually at inter-stimulus intervals of 0 and 500 milliseconds. Results found IOR in the peripheral visual cue condition but not in response to the other conditions. Experiment 2a tested for IOR using congruent visual peripheral and binaural verbal cues. Experiment 2b used congruent visual central and binaural verbal cues. Results indicated a possible IOR effect in response to the visual peripheral/verbal audio cue combination, however it may have been masked by the intersensory facilitation effect. Results to central visual/verbal audio cue combination found a significant effect of cue condition, but no IOR. Experiments 3a and b were similar to 2a and b however incongruent cue combinations were used. Indications of IOR were present in response to some visual peripheral/audio combinations. In all cases, response times to cue combinations using peripheral visual cues were longer than to combinations using central visual cues. Importantly, Experiments 3a and b demonstrated differential responding based on the validity of verbal cues, thus indicating that the validity of the verbal cue was a significant factor, but only when the visual cues were invalid. This suggests that while visual cues may have a preferential role in attentional mechanisms, verbal cues can also play a significant role in space-based attentional shifts to visual targets. This research has implications for all industries and environments using visual and/or audio cues to direct attention. Such industries include aviation, communication, transportation, emergency agencies, and more. |
