Inhibition of return (IOR) refers to the finding that response times (RTs)
are typically slower for targets at previously attended (cued) locations th
an for targets at navel (uncued) locations. Although previous research has
indicated that IOR may spread beyond a erred location, the present study is
the first to examine the spatial distribution of IOR with high spatial res
olution over a large portion of the central visual field. This was done by
using a typical IOR procedure (cue, delay, target) with 4 cue locations and
441 target locations (each separated by 1 degrees of visual angle). The re
sults indicate that IOR spreads beyond the cued location to affect the cued
hemifield. However, the cites also produced a gradient of RTs throughout t
he visual field, with inhibition in the cued hemifield gradually giving way
to facilitation in the hemifield opposite the cue.