Bridging the Divide: Understanding Phasic Alertness and Temporal Preparation

Anticipatory attention in cognitive psychology is a critical area of study that explores how individuals prepare for impending events. Reaction time (RT) tasks have consistently demonstrated that the presence of a neutral warning signal preceding a target stimulus leads to quicker response times. Despite the lack of informative content about the target's identity or response requirements, this preparation effect has proven robust, as noted in studies by Han & Proctor, McCormick et al., and Posner et al. The phenomenon has been labeled variously as phasic alertness, temporal attention, and temporal preparation, each cultivating its unique research trajectory. Recent findings suggest overlapping characteristics among these areas, raising concerns that maintaining them as separate entities might add confusion rather than clarity to the field.

This Research Topic aims to integrate the current discussions surrounding the effects of neutral warning signals. By offering a collective platform, it encourages the exploration of relationships and distinctions between phasic alertness and temporal preparation. The objective is to foster an understanding of the underlying functions and mechanisms that neutral warning signals precipitate, thereby enriching the discourse and paving the way for coherent future research in this arena.

To gather further insights into the influence of neutral warning signals, we welcome contributions that explore a diverse range of themes, including but not limited to, the following areas:
- Examination of the cognitive mechanisms underlying the interplay between phasic alertness and temporal preparation
- Comparative analysis of the effects and research methodologies for phasic alertness and temporal preparation
- Identification of neural correlates and physiological markers of anticipatory attention
- The role of neural networks and pathways in mediating these anticipatory processes
- Case studies highlighting convergence in research findings among the related areas

Authors are encouraged to present Original Research articles, Review papers, Methodological papers, and Perspectives that illuminate these aspects.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Registered Report
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Phasic alertness, temporal preparation, temporal attention, anticipation, warning signal, foreperiod

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.