Cite as:
Gavault E, Ripoll T, Laurent E, Ripoll H, 2004, "Visual attention modulates categorical perception effects in basket-ball" Perception 33 ECVP Abstract Supplement

Visual attention modulates categorical perception effects in basket-ball

E Gavault, T Ripoll, E Laurent, H Ripoll

We showed that categorical perception occurs in expert basket-ball players. From one source, consisting of schematic basket-ball configuration, two targets configurations were built. The first one was manipulated so as to be physically different but in same category, and the second so as to be in another category. Experts were better than novices in detecting changes only when the source and the target belonged to different categories. Thus, expertise in a specific domain increases observers' sensitivity to semantic changes. Yet, change-blindness studies suggest that change detection requires attention. We asked whether this sensitivity to semantic changes depends on previous attentional setting guided by expert knowledge. To do so, we directed observers' attention to changed areas. We found that novices better detected changes when they attended to the changed areas. Exogenous attention induced by experimental manipulations is involved in successful change detection. On the other hand, expert performances decreased for stimuli belonging to different categories, so that the categorical perception effect disappeared. Attentional exogenous orientation disturbed expert perceptual processing guided by knowledge. This may result from a conflict between endogenous attention induced by expertise and exogenous attention. We conclude that experts' perception seems to be constrained by endogenous attentional control induced by knowledge.

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