Wyatt, Caitlin2024-06-282024-06-282022https://hdl.handle.net/2440/141486This item is only available electronically.Within any given scene, visual stimuli are embedded amidst a complex assortment of various objects, features, and events. Visual attention is the mechanism which helps identify and discriminate between stimuli and guide actions to them to efficiently interact with our environment. It is well known that the visual system plays an important role in maintaining upright posture. However, the relationship between postural control and attentional mechanisms has never been directly addressed. Specifically, there is debate between whether adopting a standing posture adds a cognitive load and decreases attention or if it creates an alerting effect. To bridge this literature gap, this study examines the effect postural control has on visual attention by measuring the difference in eye and hand movements when sitting down compared to standing upright. A visual search task was used to quantify visual attention. Participants completed the visual search tasks in both sitting and standing postural conditions. The search task required participants to point to an odd-coloured target embedded in an array of distractors. On some trials, the colour of target was unpredictably switched between red and green. Results showed that posture significantly impacted performance, with standing producing increased performance on the visual task. Consistent with previous literature, it was also found that performance was improved when the target colour remained consistent, rather than when it was randomly switched. This study provides an understanding into how posture may impact attention and how the visual system is used when people interact with the external world.Honours; PsychologyThesis