Retrospective perceptual distortion of position representation does not lead to delayed localization

Previous studies have reported retrospective influences of visual events thatoccur after target events. In the attentional attraction effect, a position cuepresented after a target stimulus distorts the target’s position towards that ofthe cue. The present study explored the temporal relationship between stimuluspresentation and reaction time (RT) in this effect in two experiments.Participants performed a speeded localization task on two vertical lines, thepositions of which were to be distorted by an additional attentional cue. Nosignificant difference in RTs was found between the conditions with simultaneousand delayed cues. RTRT was modulated by the perceived (rather than physical)alignment of the lines. In Experiment 2, we manipulated the strength ofattentional capture by modulating the color relevance of the cue to the target.Trials with cues producing stronger attentional capture (with cues of adifferent color from the targets) were found to induce apparently strongerdistortion effects. This result favors the notion that the observed repulsionand attraction effects are driven by attentional mechanisms. Overall, theresults imply that the attentional shift induced by the cue might occur rapidlyand complete before the establishment of conscious location representation ofthe cue and the target without affecting overall response time.