Selected Papers and Presentations

Ma, X., & Abrams, R. A. (in press). Visual distraction’s “silver lining”: Distractor suppression boosts attention to competing stimuli. Psychological Science.

Ma, X., & Abrams, R. A. (2023). Feature-blind attentional suppression of salient distractors. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 85, 1409-1424.

Ma, X., & Abrams, R. A. (2023). Ignoring the unknown: Attentional suppression of unpredictable visual distraction. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 49, 1-6.

Ma, X., & Abrams, R. A. (2022). Spatial task relevance modulates value-driven attentional captureAttention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 84, 1826-1844.

Zhuang, R., Tu, Y., Wang, X., Ren, Y., & Abrams, R. A. (2021).  Contributions of gains and losses to attentional capture and disengagement: Evidence from the gap paradigm.  Experimental Brain Research, 239, 3381–3395.

Wang, Z., Weidler, B. J., Sun, P., & Abrams, R. A. (2021). Simple action alters attention towards visual features. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-021-02259-4

Chen, Z., Zhuang, R., Wang, X., Ren, Y, & Abrams, R. A. (2021). Ensemble perception without attention depends upon attentional control settings. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 83, 1240-1250.

Suh J., & Abrams, R. A. (2020). Approach and avoidance movements modulate value-driven attentional capture.  Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance, 46, 105 – 123.

Smith, K. C., Davoli, C. C., Knapp, W. H., & Abrams, R. A. (2019). Standing enhances cognitive control and alters visual searchAttention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 81, 2320 – 2329.

Weidler, B. J., Abrams, R. A., & Pratt, J. (2018, May).  Is deciding to act or executing the action critical for the action effect?  Poster presented at the meeting of the Vision Sciences Society, St. Petersburg, FL.

Smith, K. C., & Abrams, R. A. (2018).  Motion onset really does capture attention. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 80, 1775-1784.

Suh, J., & Abrams, R. A. (2018).  Action influences unconscious visual processing. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 80, 1599–1608.

Weidler, B. J., Suh, J., & Abrams, R. A. (2018).  Action history influences eye movements. Visual Cognition, 26, 299–312. 

Weidler, B. J., & Abrams, R. A. (2018).  Simple actions activate semantic associations. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 25, 1500-1506.

Suh, J., & Abrams. R. A. (2018).  Tool use produces a size illusion revealing action-specific perceptual mechanisms. Acta Psychologica, 183, 10-18.

Davoli, C. C., Bloesch, E. K., & Abrams, R. A. (2018). The power of the imagination to affect peripersonal space representations.  Visual Cognition, 26, 196-206.

Suh, J. & Abrams, R. A. (2017, November). Action-planning biases size representation in visual working memory. Poster presented at the meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Weidler, B. J., & Abrams, R. A. (2016). Simple actions influence pop-out search.  Visual Cognition, 24, 392-405.

Wang, F., Sun, J., Sun, P., Weidler, B. J., & Abrams, R. A. (2017). Influence of simple action on subsequent manual and ocular responses. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 79, 389-385.

Suh, J. & Abrams, R. A. (2016, November).  Actions to invisible objects bias subsequent vision. Poster presented at the meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Boston, MA.

Smith, K. & Abrams, R. A. (2016, November).  Hand proximity influences audition. Poster presented at the meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Boston, MA.

Abrams, R. A., Weidler, B. J., & Suh, J. (2015).  Embodied seeing:  The space near the hands.  In B. Ross (Ed.), Psychology of Learning and Motivation, Volume 63.  Elsevier.

Abrams, R. A. & Weidler, B. J. (2015).  Embodied Attention.  In J. Fawcett, E. Risko, & A. Kingstone (Eds.), Handbook of Attention.  Cambridge: MIT.

Suh, J., & Abrams, R. A. (2015). Reduced object‑based perception in the near‑hand space.  Experimental Brain Research, 233, 3403-3412.

Abrams, R. A., & Weidler, B. J. (2015). How far away is that?  It depends on you: Perception accounts for the abilities of others.  Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 41, 904-908.

Weidler, B. J., & Abrams, R. A. (2014). Decomposing the action effect: How simple actions affect subsequent perception. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 76, 1242-1252.

Du, F., Zhang, K., & Abrams. R. A. (2014). Hold the future, let the past go: Attention prefers the features of future targets. Cognition, 131, 205-215.

Abrams, R. A., & Weidler, B. J. (2014). Tradeoffs in visual processing for stimuli near the hands. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 76, 383-390.

Weidler, B. J., & Abrams, R. A. (2014). Enhanced cognitive control near the hands. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 21, 462-469.

Sapir, A., Jackson, K., Butler, J., Paul, M., & Abrams, R. A. (2013). Inhibition of return affects contrast sensitivity. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 67, 1305-1316. doi 10.1080/17470218.2013.859282

Suh, J., & Abrams, R. A. (2013, November). Interactions between hand posture and eye movement.Poster presented at the meeting of the Psychonomic Society. Toronto, ON, Canada.

Weidler, B. J., & Abrams,R. A.(2013, November). Effects of action on visual search. Poster presented at the meeting of the Psychonomic Society. Toronto, ON, Canada.

Weidler, B. J., & Abrams, R. A. (2013). Hand proximity—not arm posture—alters vision near the hands. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 75, 650-653.

Weidler, B. J., & Abrams, R. A. (2013, May). Interactive effects of hand proximity and emotion on vision. Poster presented at the meeting of the Vision Sciences Society, Naples, FL.

Du, F., Yang, J., Yin, Y., Zhang, K., & Abrams. R. A. (2013). On the automaticity of contingent capture: Disruption caused by the attentional blink.Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 20, 944-950.

Bloesch, E. K., Davoli, C. C., & Abrams, R. A. (2013). Age-related changes in attentional reference frames for peripersonal space. Psychological Science, 24, 557-561.

Brockmole, J. R., Davoli, C. C., Abrams, R. A., & Witt, J. K. (2013). The world within reach: Effects of hand posture and tool-use on visual cognition.Current Directions in Psychological Science, 22, 38-44.

Davoli, C. C., Brockmole, J., Du, F., & Abrams, R. A. (2012). Switching between global and local scopes of attention is resisted near the hands. Visual Cognition, 20, 659-668.

Knapp, W. H., & Abrams, R. A. (2012). Fundamental differences in visual search with verbal and pictorial cues. Vision Research, 71, 28-36. doi: 10.1016/j.visres.2012.08.015

Du, F., & Abrams, R. A. (2012). Out of control: Attentional selection for orientation is thwarted by properties of the underlying neural mechanisms.Cognition, 124, 361-366. doi: 10.1016/j.cognition.2012.05.013

Bloesch, E. K., Davoli, C. C., Roth, N., Brockmole, J., & Abrams, R. A. (2012). Watch this! Observed tool-use affects perceived distance. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. doi: 10.3758/s13423-011-0200-z

Qian, C., Al-Aidroos, N., West, G., Abrams, R. A., & Pratt, J. (2012). The visual P2 is attenuated for attended objects near the hands. Cognitive Neuroscience, 3, 98-104. doi: 10.1080/17588928.2012.658363

Bangert, A. S., Abrams, R. A., & Balota, D. A. (2012). Reaching for Words and Non-Words: Interactive effects of word frequency and stimulus quality on the characteristics of reaching movements. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 19, 513-520. doi: 10.3758/s13423-012-0234-x

Pratt, J., Radulescu, P., Guo, R., & Abrams, R. A. (2010). It’s alive! Animate motion captures visual attention. Psychological Science, 21, 1724-1730.

Bloesch, E. K., & Abrams, R. A. (2010). Visuomotor binding in older adults. Brain & Cognition, 74, 239-243.

Davoli, C. C., Du, F., Montana, J., Garverick, S., & Abrams, R. A. (2010). When meaning matters, look but don’t touch: The effects of posture on reading.Memory & Cognition, 38, 555-562.

Du, F., & Abrams, R. A. (2010). Visual field asymmetry in attentional capture. Brain & Cognition, 72, 310-316.

Dufault, C., Hale, S., & Abrams, R. A. (2009, November). Bilateral shifts of eye movements and attention in younger and older adults. Poster presented at the meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Boston, MA.

Davoli, C. C., Abrams, R. A., & Bloesch, E. K. (2009, May). Imagining can make far things near but cannot make near things far. Poster presented at the annual convention of the Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco, CA.

Davoli, C. C., & Abrams, R. A. (2009). Reaching out with the imagination. Psychological Science, 20, 293-295.

Du, F., & Abrams, R. A. (2009). Onset capture requires attention. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 16, 537- 541.

Du, F., & Abrams, R. A. (2008). Synergy of stimulus-driven salience and goal-directed prioritization: Evidence from the spatial blink. Perception & Psychophysics, 1489-1503.

Lawrence, B. M., St. John, A., Abrams, R. A., & Snyder, L. H. (2008). An anti-Hick’s effect in monkey and human saccade reaction times. Journal of Vision, 8:26, 1-7.

Christ, S. E., & Abrams, R. A. (2008). The attentional influence of new objects and new motion. Journal of Vision, 8:27, 1-8.

Du., F., & Abrams, R. A. (2008, November). Visual-field asymmetry in the top-down control of attention. Poster presented at the meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Chicago, IL.

Abrams, R. A., Davoli, C. C., Du, F., Knapp, W. H., & Paull, D. (2008). Altered vision near the hands. Cognition, 107, 1035-1047.

Christ, S. E., Castel, A. D., & Abrams, R. A. (2008). The capture of attention by new motion in young and older adults. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 63B, 110-116.

Weger, U., Abrams, R. A., Law, M. B., & Pratt, J. (2008). Attending to objects: Endogenous cues can produce inhibition of return. Visual Cognition, 16, 659-674.

Davoli, C., Suszko, J., & Abrams, R. A. (2007). New objects can capture attention without a unique luminance transient. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 14, 338-343.

Veiel, L., Storandt, M., & Abrams, R. A. (2006) Visual search for change in older adults. Psychology and Aging, 21, 754-762.

Christ, S. E., & Abrams, R. A. (2006). Abrupt onsets cannot be ignored. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 13, 875-880.

Abrams, R. A., & Christ, S. E. (2006). Motion onset captures attention: A rejoinder to Franconeri and Simons (2005). Perception & Psychophysics, 68, 114 – 117.

Pratt, J., Lajonchere, C., & Abrams, R. A. (2006). Attentional modulation of the gap effect. Vision Research, 46, 2602 – 2607.

Christ, S. E. & Abrams, R. A. (2006). Just like new: Newly segregated old objects capture attention. Perception & Psychophysics, 68, 301-309.

Abrams, R. A., & Christ, S. E. (2005). Onset but not offset of irrelevant motion disrupts inhibition of return. Perception & Psychophysics, 67, 1460 – 1467.

Abrams, R. A., & Christ, S. E. (2005). The onset of receding motion captures attention: Comment on Franconeri & Simons (2003). Perception & Psychophysics, 67, 219-223.

Lawrence, B., Myerson, J., & Abrams, R. A. (2004). Interference with spatial working memory: An eye movement is more than a shift of attention. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 11, 488-494.

Abrams, R. A., & Christ, S. E. (2003). Motion onset captures attention. Psychological Science, 14, 427-432.

Law, M. B., & Abrams, R. A. (2002). Object-based selection within and beyond the focus of spatial attention. Perception & Psychophysics, 64, 1017-1027.

Abrams, R. A., & Law, M. B. (2002). Random visual noise impairs object-based attention. Experimental Brain Research, 142, 349-353.

Christ, S. E., McCrae, C. S., & Abrams, R. A. (2002). Inhibition of return in static and dynamic displays. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review,
9, 80-85.

McCrae, C. S., & Abrams, R. A. (2001). Age-related differences in object- and location-based inhibition of return of attention. Psychology & Aging, 16, 437-449

Knapp, W. H., & Abrams, R. A. (2001, November). Automatic Multi-location Inhibition of Return. Paper presented at the meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Orlando, FL.
Click here to see the slides.

Abrams, R. A., & Pratt, J. (2000). Oculocentric coding of inhibited eye movements to recently attended locations. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 26, 766-788.

Abrams, R. A., & Law, M. B. (2000). Object-based visual attention with endogenous orienting. Perception & Psychophysics, 62, 818-833.

Pratt, J., & Abrams, R. A. (1999). Inhibition of return in discrimination tasks. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 25, 229 – 242.

Abrams, R. A., Pratt, J., & Chasteen, A. L. (1998). Aging and movement: Variability of force pulses for saccadic eye movements. Psychology and Aging, 13, 387-395.

Oonk, H. M., & Abrams, R. A. (1998). New perceptual objects that capture attention produce inhibition of return. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 5, 510-515.

Abrams, R. A., Oonk, H. M., & Pratt, J. (1998). Fixation point offsets facilitate endogenous saccades. Perception & Psychophysics, 60, 201-208.

Abrams, R.A., & Pratt, J. (1996). Spatially-diffuse inhibition affects multiple locations: A reply to Tipper, Weaver, and Watson (1996). Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 22. 1294-1298.

Pratt, J., & Abrams, R. A. (1996). Practice and component submovements: The roles of programming and feedback in rapid aimed limb movements. Journal of Motor Behavior, 149-156.

Law, M. B., Pratt, J., & Abrams, R. A. (1995). Color-based inhibition of return. Perception and Psychophysics, 57, 402-408.

Pratt, J., & Abrams, R. A. (1995). Inhibition of return to successively cued spatial locations. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 21, 1343-1353.

Balota, D. A., & Abrams, R. A. (1995). Mental chronometry: Beyond onset latencies in the lexical decision task. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, & Cognition, 21,
1289-1302.

Pratt, J., Chasteen, A. L., & Abrams, R. A. (1994). Rapid aimed limb movements: Age differences and practice effects in component submovements.Psychology and Aging, 9, 325-334.

Abrams, R. A., & Dobkin, R. S. (1994). The gap effect and inhibition of return: Interactive effects on eye movement latencies. Experimental Brain Research, 98, 483-487.

Abrams, R. A., & Dobkin, R. S. (1994). Inhibition of return: Effects of attentional cuing on eye movement latencies. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 20, 467-477.

Abrams, R. A., & Pratt, J. (1993). Rapid aimed limb movements: Differential effects of practice on component submovements. Journal of Motor Behavior, 25, 288-298.

Abrams, R. A., & Balota, D. A. (1991). Mental chronometry: Beyond reaction time. Psychological Science , 2, 153-157.

Abrams, R. A., Meyer, D. E., & Kornblum, S. (1990). Eye-Hand Coordination: Oculomotor control in rapid aimed limb movements. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 16, 248-267.