Cite as:
Hu C, Yeh S-L, 2004, "Effects of cue informativeness and spatial focus on object-based and space-based selection" Perception 33 ECVP Abstract Supplement

Effects of cue informativeness and spatial focus on object-based and space-based selection

C Hu, S-L Yeh

Goldsmith and Yeari (2003 Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 29 897 - 918) obtained object-based effects only under conditions of spread attention, while we found cue informativeness is necessary for object-based selection (Yeh and Lin, 2004 Journal of Vision 4 in press, abstract A38). In this study we further examined which factor, cue informativeness or spatial focus, is critical. The double-rectangle spatial-cueing paradigm was used by manipulating the cue validity (informative/non-informative) and the spread of attention (spread/focusing). When an uninformative peripheral cue was used in a detection task and attention was forced to spread widely, the same-object effect was obtained, along with an inhibitory space-based effect (experiment 1). With an informative peripheral cue and focal attention constrained on fixation, the same-object effect remained, but the space-based effect turned into facilitation (experiment 2). When the target was to be discriminated (square/circle) rather than a simple detection of the square, focusing attention on the fixation prevented the occurrence of the same-object effect, but a facilitatory space-based effect was still obtained (experiment 3). These results suggest that both cue informativeness and spread of attention affect the object-based selection. Dissociation and interdependence of space-based and object-based selection were revealed by differences in task demand (detection vs discrimination) and cue validity.

[Supported by the National Science Council of Taiwan, NSC92-2413-H-002-026 and NSC93-2752-H-002-008-PAE.]

These web-based abstracts are provided for ease of seaching and access, but certain aspects (such as as mathematics) may not appear in their optimum form. For the final published version of this abstract, please see
ECVP 2004 Abstract Supplement (complete) size: 1686 Kb