Differential Effects of Salient Visual Events on Memory‐Guided Attention in Adults and Children. Issue 4 (8th October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nussenbaum, Kate; Scerif, Gaia; Nobre, Anna C.
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 90:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 1369
• Page End: 1388
• Publication Date: 2018-10-08
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13149
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

Abstract : Both salient visual events and scene‐based memories can influence attention, but it is unclear how they interact in children and adults. In Experiment 1, children ( N = 27; ages 7–12) were faster to discriminate targets when they appeared at the same versus different location as they had previously learned or as a salient visual event. In contrast, adults ( N = 30; ages 18–31) responded faster only when cued by visual events. While Experiment 2 confirmed that adults ( N = 27) can use memories to orient attention, Experiment 3 showed that, even in the absence of visual events, the effects of memories on attention were larger in children ( N = 27) versus adults ( N = 28). These findings suggest that memories may be a robust source of influence on children's attention.