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

Thompson, C ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7967-7019 and Crundall, D 2010, Scanning behaviour of natural images is influenced by a preceding unrelated visual search task , in: Meeting of the Experimental Psychology Society, 7-10 July 2010, Manchester, UK. (Unpublished)

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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.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Themes: Built and Human Environment
Health and Wellbeing
Schools: Schools > School of Health Sciences
Refereed: No
Funders: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Depositing User: Dr Catherine Thompson
Date Deposited: 07 Jul 2015 11:00
Last Modified: 27 Aug 2021 23:18
URI: https://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/35167

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