The attentional blink (AB) indicates a temporary processing bottleneck induced by processing of a first target (T1). When stimuli are processed in rapid succession, processing of a subsequent second target (T2) is impaired by several hundred milliseconds. The AB represents workings of a late attentional filter, pointing to involvement of working memory processes.

In four experiments we investigate the contribution of such processes. First, in both laboratory and internet-based experiments we demonstrate that the AB is affected by the executive control demands induced by T1. Using Stroop interference resolution as an executive control task, we observed considerably larger AB after incongruent T1.

Second, we provide evidence from a lecical decision task suggesting that backward priming can help overcome the attentional blink. We observed equal amounts of semantic priming of a third target (T3) irrespective of whether T2 was presented during the AB or not. However and unexpectedly, when T2 and T3 were semantically related, the AB was reduced. Since T3 was presented long after T2 presentation, this is likely to be a post-decisional effect. Possibly a semantically related T3 acts as a retrieval cue for T2, which lifts T3 above the consciousness threshold during retrieval.

Third, we provide the first evidence of a high-level auditory blink, suggesting that the discrimination of musical instruments in the presence of discraction (e.g., following one instrument in an orchestra or a jazz ensemble) inpairs the subsequent discrminination of other instruments. Taken together these results corroborate the late locus of selection the attentional blink.