Implicit Learning Of Unattended Information In Serial Reaction Time Tasks

Can unattended information be acquired implicitly? This question is not only related with the different reliance of implicit vs. explicit learning on attention (explicit learning needs attentional control), but can also be traced back to the debate between early vs. late selection, that is, are the target-irrelevant information prevented from perception in the early stage of attention, or are they perceived and processed in the early stage, but are affected in the later stage of higher processings. Lavie (2004) solved this problem by a load theory of attention, and was supported by Shanks (2006) and so on. The present research used serial reaction time (SRT) task to explore the implicit learning of unattended information, and the probable effect of attention load. Three experiments are listed below:Experiment 1:Many of the research on the perception and learning o unattended information used the location of stimulus as the unattended information, and this simple and concentrated selection may narrow down the possible result. In addition, Deroost and Soentens (2006) hold the view that unattended information can be acquired only when they are related with the target task rules.Therefore, we designed an SRT task that the target task and subjects' responses varies randomly, while the location and brightness of the stimulus varied according to certain rules. The results show that the rules in both location and brightness were acquired, and learning of location was faster than brightness.Experiment 2:In the load theory of attention raised by Lavie (2004), the perceptual load of target task is an important fact which influences the processing of unrelated stimulus. When the target task itself is demanding, hardly any capacity can be left for the processing of unrelated stimulus.Here we manipulated the perceptual level and find that subjects in low perceptual load group acquired the rules while in high perceptual group not.Experiment 3:The load theory also says that the working memory load of target task has opposite effect on the process of unrelated task with perceptual load. Higher working memory load can help with rejecting irrelevant distractor even when they are perceived, and this active control actually resulted in increased processing of irrelevant distractor, thus the target task are affected more. Here we-manipulated the working memory level, and yet we get opposite result with Lavie's theory:subjects in low working memory load group acquired the rules while in high perceptual group not.In conclusion:(1) the unattended information in the sequence can be acquired implicitly, and the learning speed differs for different properties of information; (2) the perceptual load and working memory load will affect learning of unattended information, subjects in high load group can not acuqire the rules in the sequences.