Search for Conjunctively Defined Target can be Selectively Limited to a Color-Defined Subset of Elements
Abstract
When searching for a conjunctively defined target, response latencies usually increase with the number of distractor elements, suggesting serial, self-terminating search through all display elements. However, Egeth, Virzi and Garbart (1984) showed that subjects do not necessarily search all display elements, but can limit their search to a color-defined subset of the elements. The present experiments tested Egeth et al.'s conclusions using an improved paradigm. Subjects searched for a target defined as a conjunction of a color and an orientation. RTs for target present trials increased with the number of elements in that color and were independent of the number of elements in the other color, a finding which replicates Egeth et al.'s results. Experiment 1 showed also that selective search of a color-defined subset did not depend on the saliency of the subset. Experiment 2 showed that selective search can be purely color-based and does not depend on luminance or brightness of the subset. Experiment 3 showed that subjects can flexibly change the subset they are searching for trial by trial. Implications of the present findings for current theories of visual search are discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 30, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA273763
Entities
People
- A. H. Van Der Heijden
- J. Theeuwes
- N. A. Kaptein