Restricted attentional capacity between sensory modalities

The purpose of the experiments was to demonstrate an attentional-blink (AB) effect in a visual second task following the processing of a simple audito ry signal. Subjects monitored a stream of letters presented at the middle o f a computer screen using rapid serial visual presentation for the presence of a visual target (an X or a Y). In experimental trials, the visual targe t followed a pure tone that required an immediate speeded-choice response. When the tone had to be processed, accuracy in the visual-encoding task suf fered a marked and prolonged deficit that was timelocked to the onset of th e tone. When the tone could be ignored or when no tone was presented, no de ficit was observed in the visual task. The results demonstrate a cross-moda l AB effect produced by a simple two-choice auditory discrimination task. T he results are consistent with the view that at least part of the AB effect has a central, amodal, postperceptual locus.