Perceptual Organization and Focused Attention: the Role of Objects and Proximity in Visual Processing

Overview

Journal Percept Psychophys

Specialties Psychiatry
Psychology

Date 1991 Sep 1

PMID 1754368

Citations 62

Authors

A F Kramer

A Jacobson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The influence of the Gestalt grouping principles of similarity, closure, and proximity on the size of the response-compatibility effect was examined in a focused attention task. In three studies, subjects responded to a centrally located target and attempted to ignore adjacent distractors. The distractors, which served as targets on other trials, could be compatible, incompatible, or neutral with respect to the response of the target. In addition, the distractors and the target could be embedded in the same object, presented in the same color, presented on different objects, or presented in different colors. The typical response-compatibility effect (B. A. Eriksen & C. W. Eriksen, 1974) was found when the target and distractors were embedded in the same object or presented in the same color. Performance was poorer when the target was surrounded by response-incompatible distractors than when it was surrounded by response-compatible distractors. However, the response-compatibility effect was eliminated when the target and distractors were embedded in different objects, even when the distance between the items was less than .25 degrees of visual angle. Furthermore, the response-compatibility effect was of intermediate size when the distractors were not grouped strongly with the target or with neutral flankers. The results are discussed in terms of space- and object-based models of visual attention.

Citing Articles

The effect of object perception on event integration and segregation.

Balta G, Akyurek E Atten Percept Psychophys. 2024; 86(7):2424-2437.

PMID: 39294325 PMC: 11480121. DOI: 10.3758/s13414-024-02922-6.

Object-based inhibition of return in three-dimensional space: From simple drawings to real objects.

Qian Q, Zhao J, Zhang H, Yang J, Wang A, Zhang M J Vis. 2023; 23(13):7.

PMID: 37971769 PMC: 10664731. DOI: 10.1167/jov.23.13.7.

A Diffusion Model Analysis of Object-Based Selective Attention in the Eriksen Flanker Task.

Kelber P, Gierlich M, Goth J, Jeschke M, Mackenzie I, Mittelstadt V Exp Psychol. 2023; 70(3):155-170.

PMID: 37830767 PMC: 10642289. DOI: 10.1027/1618-3169/a000588.

The Impact of Speed-Accuracy Instructions on Spatial Congruency Effects.

Heuer H, Wuhr P J Cogn. 2023; 6(1):49.

PMID: 37636012 PMC: 10453986. DOI: 10.5334/joc.318.

Broad attention uncovers benefits of stimulus uniformity in visual crowding.

Rummens K, Sayim B Sci Rep. 2021; 11(1):23976.

PMID: 34907221 PMC: 8671468. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03258-z.

References

Mangun G, Hillyard S . The spatial allocation of visual attention as indexed by event-related brain potentials. Hum Factors. 1987; 29(2):195-211. DOI: 10.1177/001872088702900207. View

Tsal Y, Lavie N . Attending to color and shape: the special role of location in selective visual processing. Percept Psychophys. 1988; 44(1):15-21. DOI: 10.3758/bf03207469. View

Posner M, Snyder C, Davidson B . Attention and the detection of signals. J Exp Psychol. 1980; 109(2):160-74. View

Remington R, Pierce L . Moving attention: evidence for time-invariant shifts of visual selective attention. Percept Psychophys. 1984; 35(4):393-9. DOI: 10.3758/bf03206344. View

Duncan J . Selective attention and the organization of visual information. J Exp Psychol Gen. 1984; 113(4):501-17. DOI: 10.1037//0096-3445.113.4.501. View

Tipper S, Brehaut J, Driver J . Selection of moving and static objects for the control of spatially directed action. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 1990; 16(3):492-504. DOI: 10.1037//0096-1523.16.3.492. View

Laberge D, Brown V . Variations in size of the visual field in which targets are presented: an attentional range effect. Percept Psychophys. 1986; 40(3):188-200. DOI: 10.3758/bf03203016. View

Hoffman J . Interaction between global and local levels of a form. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 1980; 6(2):222-34. DOI: 10.1037//0096-1523.6.2.222. View

WEYMOUTH F . Visual sensory units and the minimal angle of resolution. Am J Ophthalmol. 1958; 46(1 Pt 2):102-13. DOI: 10.1016/0002-9394(58)90042-4. View

10.

Shulman G, Remington R, MCLEAN J . Moving attention through visual space. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 1979; 5(3):522-6. DOI: 10.1037//0096-1523.5.3.522. View

11.

Garner W . Location and color as cuing dimensions in contingent classification. Percept Psychophys. 1987; 41(3):202-10. DOI: 10.3758/bf03208219. View

12.

Hoffman J, Houck M, MacMillan 3rd F, Simons R, Oatman L . Event-related potentials elicited by automatic targets: a dual-task analysis. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 1985; 11(1):50-61. DOI: 10.1037//0096-1523.11.1.50. View

13.

Laberge D . Spatial extent of attention to letters and words. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 1983; 9(3):371-9. DOI: 10.1037//0096-1523.9.3.371. View

14.

Humphreys G . Flexibility of attention between stimulus dimensions. Percept Psychophys. 1981; 30(3):291-302. DOI: 10.3758/bf03214285. View

15.

Prytulak L . Good continuation revisited. J Exp Psychol. 1974; 102(5):773-7. DOI: 10.1037/h0036327. View

16.

Treisman A, Gormican S . Feature analysis in early vision: evidence from search asymmetries. Psychol Rev. 1988; 95(1):15-48. DOI: 10.1037/0033-295x.95.1.15. View

17.

Yeh Y, Eriksen C . Name codes and features in the discrimination of letter forms. Percept Psychophys. 1984; 36(3):225-33. DOI: 10.3758/bf03206363. View

18.

Treisman A, Kahneman D, Burkell J . Perceptual objects and the cost of filtering. Percept Psychophys. 1983; 33(6):527-32. DOI: 10.3758/bf03202934. View

19.

Broadbent D . Task combination and selective intake of information. Acta Psychol (Amst). 1982; 50(3):253-90. DOI: 10.1016/0001-6918(82)90043-9. View

20.

Kramer A, Wickens C, Donchin E . Processing of stimulus properties: evidence for dual-task integrality. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 1985; 11(4):393-408. DOI: 10.1037//0096-1523.11.4.393. View