Long-term abstract learning of attentional set.
How does past experience influence visual search strategy (i.e., attentional set)? Recent reports have shown that, when given the option to use 1 of 2 attentional sets, observers persist with the set previously required in a training phase. Here, 2 related questions are addressed. First, does the training effect result only from perseveration with the currently active set or from long-term learning? Experiment 1 supported the latter alternative: When training and test were separated by up to 1 week, to prevent perseveration across the 2 sessions, the training effect was still obtained. Second, is the learning feature-specific (tuned to a precise set of colors) or more abstract? Experiments 2 and 3 supported the latter: When stimulus colors were switched between training and test to remove the possibility of feature-specific learning, the training effect again was obtained. These experiments indicate that attentional set is largely guided by long-term abstract learning.
Department of Psychology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA. andrew.leber@unh.edu
Andrew B
AB
Leber
Jun-Ichiro
J
Kawahara
Yuji
Y
Gabari
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001245:Association Learning; D001288:Attention; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003210:Concept Formation; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values; D012718:Set, Psychology