Scanning behaviour of natural images is influenced by a preceding unrelated visual search task

Thompson, C; Crundall, D

Abstract

Allocation of visual attention in a natural scene is controlled by the bottom-up influences in the scene and by the top-down task demands. Models of visual search attempt to predict the eye movements made to natural scenes by accounting for these influences, with varying levels of success. More recent work shows that the spread of attention is also affected by previous experience with the same or similar scenes, and adding this component to the models increases the accuracy of any predictions made. Two experiments were completed which explored a further, previously unidentified, influence upon attention in natural scenes; the influence of an initial, unrelated visual search task. In experiment one participants completed a simple letter search and were then asked to search a picture of a natural scene. Eye movements were recorded to the picture search and results showed that the spatial layout of letters had a significant impact upon spread of search in the pictures. This finding was replicated in a second experiment which paired the letter search task with a search of dynamic video clips. The results indicate that predictions of visual search behaviour could be further improved by accounting for the influence of a preceding, unrelated task.

Citation

Thompson, C., & Crundall, D. (2010, July). Scanning behaviour of natural images is influenced by a preceding unrelated visual search task. Presented at Meeting of the Experimental Psychology Society, Manchester, UK

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: Meeting of the Experimental Psychology Society
• Conference Location: Manchester, UK
• Start Date: Jul 7, 2010
• End Date: Jul 10, 2010
• Deposit Date: Jul 7, 2015
• Publisher URL: http://www.eps.ac.uk/images/epsfiles/programme0710.pdf
• Additional Information: Event Type : Conference; Projects : Persistence of attentional set and its affects on the driving task