attention - visual search Flashcards

Question

what are the two pathways in Wolfes model of Guided Search

Answer 1

selective non-selective

Answer 2

- focused attention - helps us focus on object features while ignoring other sin the environment - essential for task that require inspection - attentional control - can selective specific stimuli

Answer 3

- Extracts basic semantic information from scene - “Gist” of the scene - global processing - automatic and unconscious Provides guidance to the selective pathway, this occurs very quickly

Answer 4

qualities of a good guide, the properties of visual stimuli, or the attributes of a product

Answer 5

colour motion orientation and size

Answer 6

depth luminance closure curvature

Answer 7

shading, luster and luminance all had an effect closer together longer reaction time

Answer 8

As we increase distinctiveness of non target to target our search time is decreased.

Answer 9

1. The difference in the target and non target. How easy is it to notice the difference between the target and non-target 2. Non-target similarity - how similar are the distractors? If heterogeneous (all different) the search more inefficient (longer).

Answer 10

High value distractors increased RT over absent. ID mattered, low working memory were more likely to be distracted and show higher reaction times.

Answer 11

Serial processing means handling one task at a time. The tasks are processed in a sequence, focusing on each task before moving to the next.

Answer 12

More accurate: Since you focus on one task, you can perform it more carefully. Better for complex tasks: When tasks require deep thinking or focus, serial processing helps avoid errors.

Answer 13

Slower: Since only one task is done at a time, it takes longer to complete multiple tasks. Inefficient for multitasking: It’s not effective when you need to do several tasks at once.

Answer 14

Parallel processing is when multiple tasks are handled at the same time. Your attention is divided, allowing you to process different types of information simultaneously.

Answer 15

Faster: Tasks are completed more quickly since they are being processed simultaneously. More efficient for multitasking: You can handle multiple tasks at once, such as listening to music while working.

Answer 16

A single-feature search involves finding a target defined by a single feature (e.g., color or shape), where the target "pops out" quickly, and search time does not increase with the number of distractors. A conjunction search involves finding a target defined by a combination of multiple features (e.g., color and shape), which typically requires more focused attention and can take longer, with search time increasing as the number of distractors grows.

Answer 17

Wolfe's research suggested that conjunction searches are not always serial (one item at a time), as FIT proposed. His guided search model indicated that parallel processing can occur in conjunction searches, especially with top-down guidance and depending on the context.

Answer 18

Guided search is a theory proposed by Wolfe suggesting that in conjunction searches, attention can be directed in a parallel manner across the display, guided by a priority map that highlights likely target locations, influenced by top-down processes such as expectations and knowledge.

Answer 19

When the target and distractors are highly similar (e.g., a red square among red circles), the conjunction search becomes more difficult and resembles serial processing. However, when the target and distractors are distinct (e.g., a red square among green circles and red suqares), the search becomes easier and may feel more like a single-feature search.

Answer 20

No, Wolfe’s research suggests that the distinction between conjunction and single-feature searches is not always clear-cut. Under some conditions (e.g., distinct targets or top-down guidance), conjunction searches can be as efficient or even more efficient than single-feature searches.

Answer 21

Top-down processing, such as expectations and prior knowledge, can significantly guide attention in a conjunction search, making it more efficient. For example, knowing the target is a red square can help direct attention and facilitate faster identification, even in a conjunction search.

Answer 22

The efficiency of a visual search depends on: Top-down processes (e.g., prior knowledge and expectations). Target-distractor similarity: More similar targets and distractors lead to slower searches. Familiarity with the target. These factors can make conjunction searches more efficient or challenging, regardless of the number of features involved.

Answer 23

The more distinctive a target is, the higher its activation, and the faster it’s found

Answer 24

Parallel processing of visual features creates a priority map Serial attention is directed to locations/items based on the priority map

Answer 25

Search becomes more efficient the more the non-targets group together.

Answer 26

Grouping non-targets into coherent clusters reduces cognitive load and allows attention to be focused more effectively on the target.

Answer 27

Search becomes less efficient because attention becomes dispersed over many different features.

Answer 28

No. If the target is too similar to the non-targets, it becomes harder to distinguish, making the search more difficult

Answer 29

No. Feature binding occurs when attention focuses on individual items to combine their features (e.g., color, shape).

Answer 30

a stimulus, often an irrelevant option in a decision, that is associated with a higher reward or perceived value than other options, including the target. This high value can lead to increased attention or interference with the primary task or target, potentially slowing down or impairing decision-making.

Answer 31

refers to the phenomenon where people fail to notice significant changes in a visual scene, even when those changes occur within their direct line of sight (e.g., in the foveal region, the center of the visual field).

Answer 32

Attention is automatically biased toward stimuli that have been previously associated with high reward, even when those stimuli are no longer relevant to the task.

Answer 33

Participants were slower to respond when a distractor in a previously rewarded color appeared, showing that learned value can capture attention involuntarily.

Answer 34

Participants searched for a red or green circle containing a line and reported the line’s orientation. One color was linked to a high reward, the other to a low reward. This built a strong color–reward association over 1008 trials.

Answer 35

Participants searched for a uniquely shaped item (e.g., a diamond among circles). Color was irrelevant, but distractors in the previously rewarded color still captured attention and slowed responses.

Answer 36

Top-down: based on task goals (e.g., "look for green") Bottom-up: based on stimulus salience (e.g., a bright flash) Value-driven: based on learned reward associations (e.g., red = high reward)