Attention to self-referential stimuli: Can I stop looking at myself?

Auto-referential materials (own name) have been described as particularly prone to capture attention. Some recent studies by Harris and Pashler (2004 Psychological Science 15 171 - 178) and Gronau et al (2003 Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 132 512 - 529) have questioned this view and showed that these own-name effects are temporary and appear only in specific conditions: when enough resources are available or when the own name is a task-irrelevant stimulus presented in the focus of attention. In the present study, a stimulus that is unique to each individual was used: the self-face. In experiment 1, the self-face produced a temporary distraction when presented at fixation during a digit-parity task. However, this distraction was not different from that triggered by another highly familiar face. In experiment 2, familiar faces failed to produce interference when presented outside the focus of attention. Experiment 3, using a less demanding task, indicated that when few resources are required, the self-face may interfere even when presented peripherally. These results confirm recent findings showing that auto-referential materials are special only in specific conditions.