# Citation Vlassova, A. (Alexandra), Spaak, E. (Eelke), Lange, F.P. de (Floris) (2022). Is attention spontaneously biased towards regularities? A direct replication and extension. [Data set]. https://doi.org/10.34973/e8q6-5119. # Abstract In this pre-registered replication study, we reassessed the spontaneous bias of attention towards task-irrelevant statistical regularities reported by Zhao, Al-Aidroos, and Turk-Browne (Psychological Science, 24(5), 667–677, 2013) using a larger sample size. We additionally extended the study to investigate the potential role of learning, doubling the duration of the experiment to determine whether the attentional bias towards regularities is reduced with continued exposure. While we could not directly replicate Zhao et al.’s central findings, our results provide a conceptual replication: we found that performance on a visual search task was better in a location containing task-irrelevant statistical regularities, supporting their conclusion that attention is spontaneously biased towards regularities in the environment. We further found that the attentional bias effect diminished with continued exposure to the regularities. We conclude that the spontaneous bias of attention towards task-irrelevant regularities may be transient, and propose that learning of the regularities may play a key role in moderating attentional selection. # Background information You can find more information, including relevant publications pertaining to this dataset on the collection overview page at https://doi.org/10.34973/e8q6-5119. A complete list of files that are part of this dataset can be found in the file MANIFEST.txt, including a SHA256 hash for each file to allow verification of correct data transfer. # Restrictions on data access and reuse The access to and use of this dataset is only allowed under the conditions listed in the data use agreement, as detailed in the file LICENSE.txt. Neither the Donders Institute or Radboud University, nor the researchers that provide this dataset should be included as an author of publications or presentations if this authorship would be based solely on the use of this data. However, we ask you to acknowledge the use of the data and data derived from the data when publicly presenting any results or algorithms that benefitted from their use: 1) Papers, book chapters, books, posters, oral presentations, and all other presentations of results derived from the data should acknowledge the origin of the data as follows: "Data were provided (in part) by the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen". 2) Authors of publications or presentations using the data should cite relevant publications describing the methods developed and used by the Donders Institute to acquire and process the data. The specific publications that are appropriate to cite in any given study will depend on what the data were used for and for what purposes. When applicable, a list of publications will be specified on the collection overview page.