tesis doctoral - e-Spacio - Uned

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Apéndice II
The underlying theoretical framework for the preattention paradigm assume that if the
digit task is correctly performed and, furthermore, differences in attentional task between
preexposure and non-preexposure conditions are found, then inattentional processing of
grouped patterns will have influenced the subsequent attentional processing of grouped stimuli.
This implies: (1) a preattentive processing of grouped patterns, and that (2) preattentive
processing of grouped patterns influences their posterior processing in a different task which
requires attention. Therefore, the negative or positive direction of differences between
preexposure and non-preexposure conditions will inform us about the facilitatory or inhibitory
relationships between preattentive and attentive processing of grouped patterns.
Moreover, in five of six experiments of the present study, an inter-subjects factor was
included. Differently to the "preattentive group" participants that performed the task as
previously described, a new group of participants, the "attentive group", carried out the task in a
different manner. This last group did not perform the digit task during preexposure phase,
instead, they were instructed to pay attention to the grouped patterns during preexposure phase
but keeping fixation on the center of the screen. The goal of this experimental manipulation was
to compare the effects of preattentive and attentive processing of grouped patterns, on
subsequent performance, in a task that requires selective attention. In our opinion, this in an
interesting way of analysing any possible qualitative differences between preattentive and
attentive perceptual grouping.