Concurrent response-selection demands modulate the attentional blink

The number of stimulus and response alternatives was varied in the 1st task of an attentional blink (AB) experiment (both tasks unspeeded) and in a sp eeded AB paradigm (SAB; speeded immediate response in Task(1)). Accuracy in Task(2) did not depend on the number of alternatives in the AB paradigm (E xperiment 1); however, accuracy in Task2 decreased as alternatives increase d in the SAB paradigm (Experiments 2-3). Longer response times in Task(1) w ere associated with lower accuracy in Task2. The results suggest that the d uration of central processing in Task(1) modulates the AB phenomenon. The r esults are discussed in the context of the central interference theory. The theory provides a unified theoretical framework within which the AB and SA B paradigms, the probe signal paradigm, and the psychological refractory pe riod paradigm can be analyzed and understood.