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Abstract:
Does the intention to grasp a cup increase the salience of
objects with handles? In a series of three experiments requiring
selection of real objects for action, we tested the prediction that
both the characteristics of the planned action (pressing a button
vs. grasping or pointing to objects) and the affordances of target
and distractor objects (e.g., presence or absence of graspable
handles) would affect interference caused by distractors. We found
that different motor responses were indeed associated with
different patterns of distractor interference. In conditions
requiring a relatively abstract button press response, distractor
interference was largely determined by perceptual salience
(proximity to initial fixation), consistent with previous studies
of attentional selection in 2-D arrays. In contrast, in conditions
in which subjects planned and executed a direct action upon target
objects, this perceptual pattern of interference was not observed.
Instead, interference was largely a function of object affordances
for action: distractors with handles caused more interference than
those without, and this was the case irrespective of whether the
intended action was grasping or pointing. Additionally, handled
distractors were relatively more interfering when affordances for
grasping were strong (handle direction compatible with acting hand)
than when affordances were weak. These data suggest that
attentional highlighting of specific features of target and
distractor objects is responsive to intended actions.
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