Allocating attention in the visual field: the effects of cue type and target-distracter confusability

In the present study I compared the effect of colour and location cues on t he selection of a target. Two questions were in focus. First, can both colo ur and location cues trigger and mediate attentional selection, and if they can, which of them is more effective? Second, does physical distinctivenes s between a target and a distracter have to be taken into account? In two e xperiments, in which the most likely target colour or location was cued, bo th colour cues and arrow-like location cues produced cue-validity effects. The relative effectiveness of feature cues and location cues appeared, to s ome extent, to be dependent on target-distractor confusability. Taken toget her, the results support the post-categorical filter theory, in which diffe rent cues can be used to trigger the feedback loop that is used to address relevant identity information via location. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PsycINFO classification: 2300; 2323; 2346.