Accuracy of target detection in new-object and old-object displays.
In 4 experiments, the authors investigated accuracy of detecting a target among nontargets. In some experiments, the target was a second-order square of stationary lines on a background of downward-moving lines, and nontargets were second-order squares of upward-moving lines. In other experiments, target and nontarget squares and background were shades of gray. The principal comparison was between "new" and "old" object displays. In new-object displays, search items appeared abruptly and one might be a target. In old-object displays, search items appeared abruptly, and after a delay one might become a target. Search displays in both conditions terminated shortly after target onset. Except when target onset was associated with the sole luminance change in a display, targets were much better detected in new- than in old-object displays. It is suggested that object onsets elicit a brief stimulus-driven enhancement of attention to the new objects.
Gellatly
A
A
Department of Psychology, University of Keele, Staffordshire, United Kingdom. psa31@keele.ac.uk
Cole
G
G
D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017603:Signal Detection, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology