Visual search for featural singletons: No top-down modulation, only bottum-up priming

J. Theeuwes, B. Reimann, K. Mortier

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

316 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of top-down knowledge on search for a feature singleton (a "pop-out target"). In a singleton detection task, advance cueing of the dimension of upcoming singleton resulted in cueing costs and benefits (Experiment 1). When the search for the singleton stayed the same but only the response requirements were changed, advance cueing failed to have an effect (Experiments 2 and 3). In singleton search only bottom-up priming plays a role (Experiments 4 and 5). We conclude that expectancy-based, top-down knowledge cannot guide the search for a featural singleton. Bottom-up priming that does facilitate search for a featural singleton cannot be influenced by top-down control. The study demonstrates that effects often attributed to early top-down guidance may represent effects that occur later in processing or represent bottom-up priming effects. © 2006 Psychology Press Ltd.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)466-489
Number of pages24
JournalVisual Cognition
Volume14
Issue number4-8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Visual search for featural singletons: No top-down modulation, only bottum-up priming'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this