Attentional blink for color

Colored letters were presented by means of rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP). Two letters (T-1 and T-2) were targets that required a speeded (T- 1) or delayed (T-2) response. T-1 was shown on half of the trials. Two task s were performed in the experimental conditions. Task(1) required a discrim ination between 2 letters (when T-1 was shown) or an indication that T-1 wa s absent. In Experiment 1, Task(2) was to detect the presence of a unique c olor in the RSVP stream (e.g., green in a stream of alternating red and gra y). In Experiment 2, Task(2) was to report the color of the first colored l etter to appear in the RSVP stream. The lag between T-1 and T-2 in the RSVP stream was manipulated. Accuracy of color reports in Task(2) was poor at s horter lags and improved as the lag was lengthened in both experiments, dem onstrating an attentional blink for chromatic information. Theoretical impl ications of the results are discussed.