Attentional Blink (AB)

Two targets appear in a rapid stream; report T1 and T2 after the sequence ends.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Overview

Identify two targets in an RSVP stream and measure T2|T1 accuracy across lags to observe the attentional blink.

How to operate

Watch the rapid sequence and report the first and second targets afterwards.

Outputs

T2|T1 accuracy for each lag condition plus per‑trial reports.

Export

CSV/JSON export supported.

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Implementation

This experiment uses the RSVP (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation) paradigm: a stream of letters and numbers appears at a fixed pace of 150 ms per item (about 6.7 items/sec). Participants report two targets: T1 (a white digit) and T2 (a red letter X). When T2 appears shortly after T1, its accuracy often drops significantly, known as the 'Attentional Blink'. This is a simplified educational adaptation of the classic paradigm: the presentation rate and lag conditions (1, 2, 3, 5, 7) are preset rather than customizable, and results are summarized as per-lag T2|T1 accuracy after the experiment.

Metrics

T1 Accuracy: % of correctly identified white digits (confirms attention). T2 Accuracy: % of correctly identified red letters X (given correct T1), grouped by T1-T2 Lag. Blink Depth: Difference between best and worst Lag T2 accuracy. AB Curve: T2 accuracy vs. Lag, showing the blink window. Data exportable to CSV.

References

Raymond, J. E., Shapiro, K. L., & Arnell, K. M. (1992). Temporary suppression of visual processing in an RSVP stream: An attentional blink? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 18(3), 849-860. 10.1037/0096-1523.18.3.849
Chun, M. M., & Potter, M. C. (1995). A two-stage model for multiple target detection in rapid serial visual presentation. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 21(1), 109-127. 10.1037/0096-1523.21.1.109
Shapiro, K. L., Raymond, J. E., & Arnell, K. M. (1994). Attention to visual pattern information produces the attentional blink in rapid serial visual presentation. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 20(2), 357-371. 10.1037/0096-1523.20.2.357

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About This Experiment

This experiment is an educational adaptation for demonstration purposes. It is not a clinical diagnostic tool. Results reflect your performance in this specific session and should not be interpreted as an assessment of your cognitive abilities.

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