Combining shape and position expectancies: hierarchical processing and selective inhibition.
Two experiments report the effects of generating a concurrent position expectancy and form expectancy. Ss were precued to a stimulus position where 1 target shape was most probable, and they made a speeded 2-choice response to the orientation of the displayed shape. Response time (RT) was faster for an expected position than an unexpected position and faster for a likely shape than for an unlikely shape. This replicates the work of Lambert and Hockey (1986). It was also observed, however, that when a stimulus appeared at an unexpected position where 2 shapes were equally improbable, RT was slower for the shape that had been likely rather than unlikely at the cued position. This finding is incompatible with the probability-matching hypothesis of Lambert and Hockey. The data support a hierarchical-expectancy model of attentional selectivity.
Klingstone
A
A
Age and Cognitive Performance Research Center, University of Manchester, England.
Klein
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005556:Form Perception; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011930:Reaction Time; D012718:Set, Psychology