Processing of one, two or four natural scenes in humans: the limits of parallelism.
The visual processing of objects in natural scenes is fast and efficient, as indexed by behavioral and ERP data [Nature 381 (1996) 520]. The results from a recent experiment suggested that such fast routines work in parallel across the visual field when subjects were presented with two natural scenes simultaneously [Nature Neurosci. 5 (2002) 629]. In the present experiment, the visual system was driven to its limits by presenting one, two or four scenes simultaneously. Behavior and ERP reveal a clear cost in processing an increasing number of scenes. However, a parallel-late selection model can still account for the results. This model is developed and discussed with reference to behavioral, single-unit and ERP data.
Centre de Recherche Cerveau et Cognition (UMR 5549, CNRS-UPS), Faculté de Médecine de Rangueil, 133 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France. rousseg@univmail.cis.mcmaster.ca
Guillaume A
GA
Rousselet
Simon J
SJ
Thorpe
Michèle
M
Fabre-Thorpe
D004569:Electroencephalography; D004777:Environment; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D006801:Humans; D011601:Psychophysics; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*