AttentionLab Utrecht University
@attentionlab.bsky.social
AttentionLab is the research group headed by Prof. Stefan Van der Stigchel at Experimental Psychology | Helmholtz Institute
| Utrecht University
| Utrecht University
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Follow all or make a selection, up to you! Will update this list whenever more lab members join Bluesky 🙂
go.bsky.app/4yHiToK
Follow all or make a selection, up to you! Will update this list whenever more lab members join Bluesky 🙂
go.bsky.app/4yHiToK
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
Planning on running a RIFT study? In a new manuscript, we put together the RIFT know-how accumulated over the years by multiple labs (@lindadrijvers.bsky.social, @schota.bsky.social, @eelkespaak.bsky.social, with Cecília Hustá and others).
Preprint: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Preprint: osf.io/preprints/ps...
OSF
osf.io
October 29, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Planning on running a RIFT study? In a new manuscript, we put together the RIFT know-how accumulated over the years by multiple labs (@lindadrijvers.bsky.social, @schota.bsky.social, @eelkespaak.bsky.social, with Cecília Hustá and others).
Preprint: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Preprint: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
Filled with a bunch of extra analyses, this is now accepted in The Journal of Neuroscience @sfn.org! You can have a sneak peak here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 24, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Filled with a bunch of extra analyses, this is now accepted in The Journal of Neuroscience @sfn.org! You can have a sneak peak here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
Spatial attention and working memory are popularly thought to be tightly coupled. Yet, distinct neural activity tracks attentional breadth and WM load.
In a new paper @jocn.bsky.social, we show that pupil size independently tracks breadth and load.
doi.org/10.1162/JOCN...
In a new paper @jocn.bsky.social, we show that pupil size independently tracks breadth and load.
doi.org/10.1162/JOCN...
October 14, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Spatial attention and working memory are popularly thought to be tightly coupled. Yet, distinct neural activity tracks attentional breadth and WM load.
In a new paper @jocn.bsky.social, we show that pupil size independently tracks breadth and load.
doi.org/10.1162/JOCN...
In a new paper @jocn.bsky.social, we show that pupil size independently tracks breadth and load.
doi.org/10.1162/JOCN...
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
Very happy to see this preprint out! The amazing @danwang7.bsky.social was on fire sharing this work at #ECVP2025, gathering loads of attention, and here you can find the whole thing!
Using RIFT we reveal how the competition between top-down goals and bottom-up saliency unfolds within visual cortex.
Using RIFT we reveal how the competition between top-down goals and bottom-up saliency unfolds within visual cortex.
August 28, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Very happy to see this preprint out! The amazing @danwang7.bsky.social was on fire sharing this work at #ECVP2025, gathering loads of attention, and here you can find the whole thing!
Using RIFT we reveal how the competition between top-down goals and bottom-up saliency unfolds within visual cortex.
Using RIFT we reveal how the competition between top-down goals and bottom-up saliency unfolds within visual cortex.
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
I'll show some (I think) cool stuff about how we can measure the phenomenology of synesthesia in a physiological way at #ECVP - Color II, atrium maximum, 9:15, Thursday.
say hi and show your colleagues that you're one of the dedicated ones by getting up early on the last day!
say hi and show your colleagues that you're one of the dedicated ones by getting up early on the last day!
#ECVP2025 starts with a fully packed room!
I'll show data, demonstrating that synesthetic perception is perceptual, automatic, and effortless.
Join my talk (Thursday, early morning.., Color II) to learn how the qualia of synesthesia can be inferred from pupil size.
Join and (or) say hi!
I'll show data, demonstrating that synesthetic perception is perceptual, automatic, and effortless.
Join my talk (Thursday, early morning.., Color II) to learn how the qualia of synesthesia can be inferred from pupil size.
Join and (or) say hi!
August 27, 2025 at 9:13 PM
I'll show some (I think) cool stuff about how we can measure the phenomenology of synesthesia in a physiological way at #ECVP - Color II, atrium maximum, 9:15, Thursday.
say hi and show your colleagues that you're one of the dedicated ones by getting up early on the last day!
say hi and show your colleagues that you're one of the dedicated ones by getting up early on the last day!
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
🧠 Excited to share that our new preprint is out!🧠
In this work, we investigate the dynamic competition between bottom-up saliency and top-down goals in the early visual cortex using rapid invisible frequency tagging (RIFT).
📄 Check it out on bioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
In this work, we investigate the dynamic competition between bottom-up saliency and top-down goals in the early visual cortex using rapid invisible frequency tagging (RIFT).
📄 Check it out on bioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Dynamic competition between bottom-up saliency and top-down goals in early visual cortex
Task-irrelevant yet salient stimuli can elicit automatic, bottom-up attentional capture and compete with top-down, goal-directed processes for neural representation. However, the temporal dynamics und...
www.biorxiv.org
August 27, 2025 at 9:16 PM
🧠 Excited to share that our new preprint is out!🧠
In this work, we investigate the dynamic competition between bottom-up saliency and top-down goals in the early visual cortex using rapid invisible frequency tagging (RIFT).
📄 Check it out on bioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
In this work, we investigate the dynamic competition between bottom-up saliency and top-down goals in the early visual cortex using rapid invisible frequency tagging (RIFT).
📄 Check it out on bioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
And now without bluesky making the background black...
August 24, 2025 at 8:57 PM
And now without bluesky making the background black...
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
#ECVP2025 starts with a fully packed room!
I'll show data, demonstrating that synesthetic perception is perceptual, automatic, and effortless.
Join my talk (Thursday, early morning.., Color II) to learn how the qualia of synesthesia can be inferred from pupil size.
Join and (or) say hi!
I'll show data, demonstrating that synesthetic perception is perceptual, automatic, and effortless.
Join my talk (Thursday, early morning.., Color II) to learn how the qualia of synesthesia can be inferred from pupil size.
Join and (or) say hi!
August 24, 2025 at 4:28 PM
#ECVP2025 starts with a fully packed room!
I'll show data, demonstrating that synesthetic perception is perceptual, automatic, and effortless.
Join my talk (Thursday, early morning.., Color II) to learn how the qualia of synesthesia can be inferred from pupil size.
Join and (or) say hi!
I'll show data, demonstrating that synesthetic perception is perceptual, automatic, and effortless.
Join my talk (Thursday, early morning.., Color II) to learn how the qualia of synesthesia can be inferred from pupil size.
Join and (or) say hi!
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
Excited to give a talk at #ECVP2025 (Tuesday morning, Attention II) on how spatially biased attention during VWM does not boost excitability the same way it does when attending the external world, using Rapid Invisible Frequency Tagging (RIFT). @attentionlab.bsky.social @ecvp.bsky.social
August 24, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Excited to give a talk at #ECVP2025 (Tuesday morning, Attention II) on how spatially biased attention during VWM does not boost excitability the same way it does when attending the external world, using Rapid Invisible Frequency Tagging (RIFT). @attentionlab.bsky.social @ecvp.bsky.social
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
Excited to share that I’ll be presenting my poster at #ECVP2025 on August 26th (afternoon session)!
🧠✨ Our work focused on dynamic competition between bottom-up saliency and top-down goals in early visual cortex by using Rapid Invisible Frequency Tagging
@attentionlab.bsky.social @ecvp.bsky.social
🧠✨ Our work focused on dynamic competition between bottom-up saliency and top-down goals in early visual cortex by using Rapid Invisible Frequency Tagging
@attentionlab.bsky.social @ecvp.bsky.social
August 24, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Excited to share that I’ll be presenting my poster at #ECVP2025 on August 26th (afternoon session)!
🧠✨ Our work focused on dynamic competition between bottom-up saliency and top-down goals in early visual cortex by using Rapid Invisible Frequency Tagging
@attentionlab.bsky.social @ecvp.bsky.social
🧠✨ Our work focused on dynamic competition between bottom-up saliency and top-down goals in early visual cortex by using Rapid Invisible Frequency Tagging
@attentionlab.bsky.social @ecvp.bsky.social
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
Excited to present at #ECVP2025 - Monday afternoon, Learning & Memory - about how anticipating relevant visual events prepares visual processing for efficient memory-guided visual selection! 🧠🥳
@attentionlab.bsky.social @ecvp.bsky.social
Preprint for more details: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@attentionlab.bsky.social @ecvp.bsky.social
Preprint for more details: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Anticipated Relevance Prepares Visual Processing for Efficient Memory-Guided Selection
Finding an object typically involves the use of working memory to prioritize relevant visual information at the right time. For example, successfully detecting a highway exit sign is useless when your...
www.biorxiv.org
August 24, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Excited to present at #ECVP2025 - Monday afternoon, Learning & Memory - about how anticipating relevant visual events prepares visual processing for efficient memory-guided visual selection! 🧠🥳
@attentionlab.bsky.social @ecvp.bsky.social
Preprint for more details: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@attentionlab.bsky.social @ecvp.bsky.social
Preprint for more details: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
Gaze heatmaps (are popular especially for eye-tracking beginners and in many applied domains. How many participants should be tested?
Depends of course, but our guidelines help navigating this in an informed way.
Out now in BRM (free) doi.org/10.3758/s134...
@psychonomicsociety.bsky.social
Depends of course, but our guidelines help navigating this in an informed way.
Out now in BRM (free) doi.org/10.3758/s134...
@psychonomicsociety.bsky.social
July 29, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Gaze heatmaps (are popular especially for eye-tracking beginners and in many applied domains. How many participants should be tested?
Depends of course, but our guidelines help navigating this in an informed way.
Out now in BRM (free) doi.org/10.3758/s134...
@psychonomicsociety.bsky.social
Depends of course, but our guidelines help navigating this in an informed way.
Out now in BRM (free) doi.org/10.3758/s134...
@psychonomicsociety.bsky.social
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
Thrilled to share that I successfully defended my PhD dissertation on Monday June 16th!
The dissertation is available here: doi.org/10.33540/2960
The dissertation is available here: doi.org/10.33540/2960
June 18, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Thrilled to share that I successfully defended my PhD dissertation on Monday June 16th!
The dissertation is available here: doi.org/10.33540/2960
The dissertation is available here: doi.org/10.33540/2960
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
Now published in Attention, Perception & Psychophysics @psychonomicsociety.bsky.social
Open Access link: doi.org/10.3758/s134...
Open Access link: doi.org/10.3758/s134...
June 12, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Now published in Attention, Perception & Psychophysics @psychonomicsociety.bsky.social
Open Access link: doi.org/10.3758/s134...
Open Access link: doi.org/10.3758/s134...
@vssmtg.bsky.social
presentations today!
R2, 15:00
@chrispaffen.bsky.social:
Functional processing asymmetries between nasal and temporal hemifields during interocular conflict
R1, 17:15
@dkoevoet.bsky.social:
Sharper Spatially-Tuned Neural Activity in Preparatory Overt than in Covert Attention
presentations today!
R2, 15:00
@chrispaffen.bsky.social:
Functional processing asymmetries between nasal and temporal hemifields during interocular conflict
R1, 17:15
@dkoevoet.bsky.social:
Sharper Spatially-Tuned Neural Activity in Preparatory Overt than in Covert Attention
May 18, 2025 at 9:41 AM
@vssmtg.bsky.social
presentations today!
R2, 15:00
@chrispaffen.bsky.social:
Functional processing asymmetries between nasal and temporal hemifields during interocular conflict
R1, 17:15
@dkoevoet.bsky.social:
Sharper Spatially-Tuned Neural Activity in Preparatory Overt than in Covert Attention
presentations today!
R2, 15:00
@chrispaffen.bsky.social:
Functional processing asymmetries between nasal and temporal hemifields during interocular conflict
R1, 17:15
@dkoevoet.bsky.social:
Sharper Spatially-Tuned Neural Activity in Preparatory Overt than in Covert Attention
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
We previously showed that affordable eye movements are preferred over costly ones. What happens when salience comes into play?
In our new paper, we show that even when salience attracts gaze, costs remain a driver of saccade selection.
OA paper here:
doi.org/10.3758/s134...
In our new paper, we show that even when salience attracts gaze, costs remain a driver of saccade selection.
OA paper here:
doi.org/10.3758/s134...
May 16, 2025 at 1:36 PM
We previously showed that affordable eye movements are preferred over costly ones. What happens when salience comes into play?
In our new paper, we show that even when salience attracts gaze, costs remain a driver of saccade selection.
OA paper here:
doi.org/10.3758/s134...
In our new paper, we show that even when salience attracts gaze, costs remain a driver of saccade selection.
OA paper here:
doi.org/10.3758/s134...
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
Preparing overt eye movements and directing covert attention are neurally coupled. Yet, this coupling breaks down at the single-cell level. What about populations of neurons?
We show: EEG decoding dissociates preparatory overt from covert attention at the population level:
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
We show: EEG decoding dissociates preparatory overt from covert attention at the population level:
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
May 13, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Preparing overt eye movements and directing covert attention are neurally coupled. Yet, this coupling breaks down at the single-cell level. What about populations of neurons?
We show: EEG decoding dissociates preparatory overt from covert attention at the population level:
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
We show: EEG decoding dissociates preparatory overt from covert attention at the population level:
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
In our latest paper @elife.bsky.social we show that we choose to move our eyes based on effort minimization. Put simply, we prefer affordable over more costly eye movements.
eLife's digest:
elifesciences.org/digests/9776...
The paper:
elifesciences.org/articles/97760
#VisionScience
eLife's digest:
elifesciences.org/digests/9776...
The paper:
elifesciences.org/articles/97760
#VisionScience
elifesciences.org
April 8, 2025 at 8:06 AM
In our latest paper @elife.bsky.social we show that we choose to move our eyes based on effort minimization. Put simply, we prefer affordable over more costly eye movements.
eLife's digest:
elifesciences.org/digests/9776...
The paper:
elifesciences.org/articles/97760
#VisionScience
eLife's digest:
elifesciences.org/digests/9776...
The paper:
elifesciences.org/articles/97760
#VisionScience
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
New preprint!
We present two very large eye tracking datasets of museum visitors (4-81 y.o.!) who freeviewed (n=1248) or searched for a +/x (n=2827) in a single feature-rich image.
We invite you to (re)use the dataset and provide suggestions for future versions 📋
osf.io/preprints/os...
We present two very large eye tracking datasets of museum visitors (4-81 y.o.!) who freeviewed (n=1248) or searched for a +/x (n=2827) in a single feature-rich image.
We invite you to (re)use the dataset and provide suggestions for future versions 📋
osf.io/preprints/os...
March 28, 2025 at 9:34 AM
New preprint!
We present two very large eye tracking datasets of museum visitors (4-81 y.o.!) who freeviewed (n=1248) or searched for a +/x (n=2827) in a single feature-rich image.
We invite you to (re)use the dataset and provide suggestions for future versions 📋
osf.io/preprints/os...
We present two very large eye tracking datasets of museum visitors (4-81 y.o.!) who freeviewed (n=1248) or searched for a +/x (n=2827) in a single feature-rich image.
We invite you to (re)use the dataset and provide suggestions for future versions 📋
osf.io/preprints/os...
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
Out in Psychophysiology (OA):
Typically, pupillometry struggles with complex stimuli. We introduced a method to study covert attention allocation in complex video stimuli -
effects of top-down attention, bottom-up attention, and pseudoneglect could all be recovered.
doi.org/10.1111/psyp.70036
Typically, pupillometry struggles with complex stimuli. We introduced a method to study covert attention allocation in complex video stimuli -
effects of top-down attention, bottom-up attention, and pseudoneglect could all be recovered.
doi.org/10.1111/psyp.70036
<em>Psychophysiology</em> | SPR Journal | Wiley Online Library
Previous studies have shown that the pupillary light response (PLR) can physiologically index covert attention, but only with highly simplistic stimuli. With a newly introduced technique that models ....
doi.org
March 21, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Out in Psychophysiology (OA):
Typically, pupillometry struggles with complex stimuli. We introduced a method to study covert attention allocation in complex video stimuli -
effects of top-down attention, bottom-up attention, and pseudoneglect could all be recovered.
doi.org/10.1111/psyp.70036
Typically, pupillometry struggles with complex stimuli. We introduced a method to study covert attention allocation in complex video stimuli -
effects of top-down attention, bottom-up attention, and pseudoneglect could all be recovered.
doi.org/10.1111/psyp.70036
Congrats to Luzi @luzixu.bsky.social! We're very proud of you! 🎊
Last Friday the irreplaceable @luzixu.bsky.social successfully defended her PhD (at @utrechtuniversity.bsky.social). This has been an incredibly productive 3+ years, and we are sad to see her leave, but are very proud of her accomplishments (with @attentionlab.bsky.social, @chrispaffen.bsky.social)!
March 19, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Congrats to Luzi @luzixu.bsky.social! We're very proud of you! 🎊
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
Presaccadic attention facilitates visual continuity across eye movements. However, recent work may suggest that presaccadic attention doesn't shift upward. What's going on?
Our paper shows that presaccadic attention moves up- and downward using the pupil light response.
doi.org/10.1111/psyp.70047
Our paper shows that presaccadic attention moves up- and downward using the pupil light response.
doi.org/10.1111/psyp.70047
<em>Psychophysiology</em> | SPR Journal | Wiley Online Library
Dominant theories posit that attentional shifts prior to saccades enable a stable visual experience despite abrupt changes in visual input caused by saccades. However, recent work may challenge this ...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
March 19, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Presaccadic attention facilitates visual continuity across eye movements. However, recent work may suggest that presaccadic attention doesn't shift upward. What's going on?
Our paper shows that presaccadic attention moves up- and downward using the pupil light response.
doi.org/10.1111/psyp.70047
Our paper shows that presaccadic attention moves up- and downward using the pupil light response.
doi.org/10.1111/psyp.70047
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
New popscience piece on why pupil size changes are so cool. psyche.co/ideas/the-pu...
Included: an assignment that lets you measure pupil size. In my classes, this replicates Hess & Polt's 1964 effort finding without an eyetracker. Feel free to use it!
#VisionScience #neuroscience #psychology 🧪
Included: an assignment that lets you measure pupil size. In my classes, this replicates Hess & Polt's 1964 effort finding without an eyetracker. Feel free to use it!
#VisionScience #neuroscience #psychology 🧪
Psyche | on the human condition
Psyche is a digital magazine from Aeon Media that illuminates the human condition through psychology, philosophy and the arts.
psyche.co
January 6, 2025 at 12:21 PM
New popscience piece on why pupil size changes are so cool. psyche.co/ideas/the-pu...
Included: an assignment that lets you measure pupil size. In my classes, this replicates Hess & Polt's 1964 effort finding without an eyetracker. Feel free to use it!
#VisionScience #neuroscience #psychology 🧪
Included: an assignment that lets you measure pupil size. In my classes, this replicates Hess & Polt's 1964 effort finding without an eyetracker. Feel free to use it!
#VisionScience #neuroscience #psychology 🧪
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
In conclusion, observers can flexibly de-prioritize and re-prioritize VWM contents based on current task demands, allowing observers to exert control over the extent to which VWM contents influence concurrent visual processing.
December 20, 2024 at 12:26 AM
In conclusion, observers can flexibly de-prioritize and re-prioritize VWM contents based on current task demands, allowing observers to exert control over the extent to which VWM contents influence concurrent visual processing.
Reposted by AttentionLab Utrecht University
🚨My first paper with Samson Chota, Luzi Xu , Stefan Van der Stigchel and @suryagayet.bsky.social accepted in Consciousness and Cognition(www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...)
We asked whether the impact of VWM content on early visual processing depends on the priority state of the memory items.
The priority state of items in visual working memory determines their influence on early visual processing
Items held in visual working memory (VWM) influence early visual processing by enhancing memory-matching visual input. Depending on current task deman…
www.sciencedirect.com
December 20, 2024 at 12:01 AM
🚨My first paper with Samson Chota, Luzi Xu , Stefan Van der Stigchel and @suryagayet.bsky.social accepted in Consciousness and Cognition(www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...)
We asked whether the impact of VWM content on early visual processing depends on the priority state of the memory items.