Debriefing Modification of Attentional Capture by Signals of Threat Study

Thank you for your invaluable participation in the modified study of

"Attentional Capture by Signals of Threat" originally conducted by
Lisette J. Schmidt, Artem V. Belopolsky, and Jan Theeuwes from the
Department of Cognitive Psychology at VU University Amsterdam.

The primary objective of this study was to explore how signals of

threat/fear impact attentional processes. In our daily lives, our attention is
constantly bombarded by various stimuli, some of which may signal
potential threats. We aimed to investigate whether these threat-related
stimuli capture attention more effectively than neutral stimuli, shedding
light on the adaptive mechanisms underlying threat detection.
During the experiment, participants were presented with a series of visual stimuli containing both
threat-related and neutral images. These stimuli were carefully selected to elicit emotional
responses and included blue/orange diamonds as threat-related cues (depending on the
participant), and neutral objects as control stimuli. Participants' accuracy rates and response
times were tracked, allowing us to precisely measure their visual attentional patterns depending
on the presentation of threat-related cues and neutral stimuli.

Based on previous research in the field, especially the study on "Attentional Capture by Signals
of Threat" originally conducted by Lisette J. Schmidt, Artem V. Belopolsky, and Jan Theeuwes,
we hypothesized that threat-related stimuli would capture attention more rapidly and robustly
than neutral stimuli. Such findings would suggest that the human brain is finely tuned to
prioritize the detection of potential threats in the environment. This has significant implications
for our understanding of the evolutionary origins of attentional processes and their role in
facilitating adaptive behavior, suggesting that ther is faster deployment of attention for
threat-related cues as it helps us survive.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact the primary researcher:

Email: ______@vu.nl

If you want to know more:

1. Schmidt, L. J., Belopolsky, A. V., & Theeuwes, J. (2014). Attentional capture by signals of
threat. Cognition and Emotion, 29(4), 687–694.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2014.924484

2. LoBue, V., & DeLoache, J. S. (2008). Detecting the snake in the grass. Psychological Science,
19(3), 284–289. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02081.x