Not a slave to the rhythm: the perceptual consequences of rhythmic visual stimulation

Kerlin, Jess Robert (2016). Not a slave to the rhythm: the perceptual consequences of rhythmic visual stimulation. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

We investigated whether rhythmic visual stimulation leads to changes in visual perception attributable to the entrainment of endogenous alpha-band oscillations. First, we report evidence that the attentional blink phenomenon is not selectively modified by alpha-band rhythmic entrainment. Next, we provide evidence that changes in single target identification following rhythmic stimulation are poorly explained by rhythmic entrainment, but well explained by alternative factors. We report failures to replicate the results of two previous visual entrainment studies supporting the hypothesis that alpha-band rhythmic stimulation leads to matching rhythmic fluctuations in target detection. Finally, we examined whether temporal acuity during an RSVP sequence is dependent on rhythmic entrainment by studying the role of object change on temporal acuity, finding novel results inconsistent with the predictions of the rhythmic entrainment model. We conclude that visual perception is robust against entrainment to task-irrelevant rhythmic visual inputs and that endogenous and externally driven oscillations in the visual system may be functionally distinct.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

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