Forster&Lavie 2016.pdf (550.37 kB)
Establishing the attention-distractibility trait
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 23:53 authored by Sophie ForsterSophie Forster, Nilli LavieFailures to focus attention will affect any task engagement (e.g., at work, in the classroom, when driving). At the clinical end, distractibility is a diagnostic criterion of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this study, we examined whether the inability to maintain attentional focus varies in the overall population in the form of an attention-distractibility trait. To test this idea, we administered an ADHD diagnostic tool to a sample of healthy participants and assessed the relationship between ADHD symptoms and task distraction. ADHD symptom summary scores were significantly positively associated with distractor interference in letter-search and name-classification tasks (as measured by reaction time), as long as the distractors were irrelevant (cartoon images) rather than relevant (i.e., compatible or incompatible with target names). Higher perceptual load during a task eliminated distraction irrespective of ADHD score. These findings suggest the existence of an attention-distractibility trait that confers vulnerability to irrelevant distraction, which can be remedied by increasing the level of perceptual load during the task.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Psychological ScienceISSN
1467-9280Publisher
Association for Psychological ScienceExternal DOI
Issue
2Volume
27Page range
203-212Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2016-01-07First Open Access (FOA) Date
2016-08-03First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2016-08-03Usage metrics
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