The attentional blink demonstrates automatic deviance processing in vision

Rare deviations in serial visual stimulation are accompanied by an occipital N2 in the event-related potential [the visual mismatch negativity (vMMN)]. Recent research suggests that the vMMN reflects automatic processing of information on the sensory level as a basis for change detection. To directly test the hypothesis that the vMMN is independent from attention, a rapid-serial-visual-presentation paradigm was applied: Either 300ms or 700ms after the presentation of a target (T1) a rare position change was embedded in the stimulation which elicited a vMMN. In another condition participants had to detect a second target (T2) after T1: Importantly, within 300ms after T1, T2 detection was nearly chance level ('attentional blink'). This result demonstrates that the vMMN is elicited without attentional allocation. NeuroReport 22:664-667 (C) 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.