Abstract
Stimulus features (e.g., color) previously associated with reward capture attention (e.g., Anderson, 2013). However, the mechanism of the value-based attentional capture is still unknown. In all previous studies, the feature associated with reward was presented during performing a task, suggesting that it is necessary for the feature to be presented in the task display. In the current study, we presented the reward-associated feature before (fixation period) or after (feedback period) the task display in the flanker task and examined whether the value-based capture occurred or not. The value-based attentional capture was examined in the subsequence visual search. Results showed that the value-based attentional capture was only observed when the reward-associated feature was presented during the task display. These findings indicate that presentation of reward-associated feature at the time of performing the task is necessary for the value-based attentional capture.
