Training Phase Results The RT difference between gain and loss was numerically larger for the second half of the trials than the first half, as predicted, though the interaction between distractor type (gain vs. loss) and session, F(1,30) =2.77, p<.11, was not significant (perhaps due to low sample size). Test Phase Results The interaction between age group and distractor type approached significance, F(3,90)=2.53, p=0.06. For younger adults, RT was significantly slower for both the gain- and loss-associated colors than the neutral and no-distractor conditions, Fs(1,23)≥4.41, ps<0.5, replicating Anderson et al.’s (2011) finding with reward. However, the gain-associated color was non- significantly 8-ms slower than for the loss-associated color, F(1,23)=2.92, p=0.10. For older adults, RT was significantly slower for loss-associated colors than the neutral and no-distractor conditions, Fs(1,8)≥5.40, ps<0.5. Unlike younger adults, older adults were 20-ms slower for the loss- associated color than the gain-associated color, but this difference did not reach significance, F<1.0 (perhaps due to low sample size). Tentative Conclusions The present study examined whether irrelevant stimuli can capture our attention involuntarily as a consequence of gain vs. loss learning. While we are still collecting data, these preliminary data tentatively suggest that (a) loss does influence attention just like gain, and (b) there are age-related differences in the effect of gain vs. loss on attention capture. However, the current data are inconsistent with the previously reported negativity bias for younger adults (slow RT when the distractor color was previously loss-associated) and positivity bias for older adults (slow RT when distractor color was previously gain-associated). Perhaps the bias is more of a conscious, value judgment and doesn't extend to unconscious influences. Methods Participants: 24 Younger adults (18-23 years old) and 9 older adults (60-80 years old) each performed two phases: training then test. Training Phase: Participants indicated the orientation of a bar within a red or green circle by pressing “V” for vertical and “H” for horizontal. Gain vs. Loss: To provide incentives for making correct responses, we used the following gain/loss schedule for half of the participants. For the other participants, the assignment was reversed. They were not explicitly informed of this gain/loss schedule. Red target color: high gain (5 points) for correct responses low gain (1 point) for incorrect response Green target color: low loss (-1 point) for correct responses high loss (-5 points) for incorrect response Test Phase: Instead of searching for color (red/green) as in the training phase, participants now searched for the unique diamond shape, indicating the orientation of the line inside (“V” for vertical, “H” for horizontal). Target Display: Contained no distractor color or one distractor color (previously gain-associated color, loss-associated color, or neutral color). Each condition was equally likely and intermixed within blocks. Validation of Learning At the end of the training phase, we expect that participants have implicitly learned the color and gain/loss association. Thus, the difference in response time (RT) between the gain vs. loss trials (e.g., taking more time to avoid loss) should be larger for the second half of the training than the first half of the training. Learning to Attend: The Influence of Gain Vs. Loss on Attention Capture for Younger and Older Adults Jamie Naylor, Derek Araujo, & Dr. Mei-Ching Lien School of Psychological Science, College of Liberal Arts Value-Driven Attention Capture Our brains eagerly seek out rewards and, accordingly, reward often influences our attention. Anderson, Laurent, and Yantis (2011) recently showed that stimuli can capture our attention involuntarily as a consequence of previous reward learning, even after they no longer signal reward. In that study, participants performed a training phase then a test phase. During the training phase, participants determined the orientation of a bar within the target color circle (red or green, occurring equally often within each block). They received visual feedback indicating a monetary reward after each correct response (Panel A). One color was always associated with high reward ($0.05) whereas the other color was always associated with low reward ($0.01). Participants were not told about this association. During the test phase, the task changed. Participants determined the orientation of a bar within a unique shape among 5 homogenous shapes of different colors (Panel B). Even though the color was irrelevant, the distractor shape containing previously highly-rewarded color slowed target responses (by 16 ms) relative to neutral color condition. The Present Study Whereas Anderson et al. (2011) focused exclusively on reward (gain), the present study aimed to examine whether capture also occurs for loss- associated stimuli. In addition, we examined whether the effect of gain vs. loss on attention capture changed with age. Previous studies have found that older adults show enhanced processing of positive stimuli relative to negative stimuli whereas younger adults show the reverse pattern (e.g., Knight et al., 2007). Predictions The positivity bias for older adults would make them more susceptible to capture by gain-associated stimuli than loss-associated stimuli, whereas a negativity bias for younger adults would make them more susceptible to capture by loss-associated stimuli. References Anderson BA, Laurent PA, Yantis S (2011) Value-driven attentional capture. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108: 10367– Knight, M., Seymour, T. L., Gaunt, J. T., Baker, C., Nesmith, K., & Mather, M. (2007). Aging and goal-directed emotional attention: Distraction reverses emotional biases. Emotion, 7, 705– Total +10 Fixation 400, 500 or 600 ms Target Display until Response Auditory Feedback (“correct”, “incorrect”) 500 ms Visual Feedback Gain/Loss 2000 ms Blank 500 ms TIME + Fixation ms Target Display until Response Tone Feedback for Incorrect Response 100 ms TIME + Younger Adults Older Adults 13 ms32 ms 24 ms63 ms Younger Adults Older Adults -8 ms 20 ms : Training Phase: Test Phase