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Feature-Based Attention Within an Object Enhances the Binding Between Features and Responses
  • Guangyao Zu,
  • Aijun Wang,
  • Ming Zhang
Guangyao Zu
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Aijun Wang
Suzhou University

Corresponding Author:ajwang@suda.edu.cn

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Ming Zhang
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Abstract

Although previous studies have indicated that the occurrence of stimulus-response binding (and feature-response binding) is automatic, the influence of attention on the strength of stimulus-response binding remains unclear. This study investigated whether feature-based attention affected feature-response binding within multi-feature objects. We employed a modified partial repetition cost (PRC) paradigm. By maintaining a constant level of attention to features during the retrieval phase and manipulating the task relevance of features during the binding phase, we were able to modulate attention to features during the binding phase. Behavioral data and EEG signals were recorded, incorporating temporal EEG signal decomposition and representational similarity analysis (RSA) to comprehensively examine the influence of attention on the strength of stimulus-response binding during both the binding and retrieval phases. Our results indicated that features attended to during the binding phase exhibited greater behavioral PRC effects during the retrieval phase compared to unattended features. Correspondingly, ERP P3 and decomposed C-cluster P3 components showed larger amplitudes under partial repetition conditions, but this modulation was only observed for task-relevant features during the retrieval phase. Additionally, RSA results during the binding phase demonstrated higher representational similarity scores for feature-response binding when features were attended to. These findings suggest that feature-based attention during the binding phase enhances the strength of feature-response binding, aligning with the theory of intentional weighting in cognitive control.