title: Using the dual-target cost to explore the nature of search target representations.
abstract: Eye movements were monitored to examine search efficiency and infer how color is mentally represented to guide search for multiple targets. Observers located a single color target very efficiently by fixating colors similar to the target. However, simultaneous search for 2 colors produced a dual-target cost. In addition, as the similarity between the 2 target colors decreased, search efficiency suffered, resulting in more fixations on colors dissimilar to both target colors, which we describe as a "split-target cost." The patterns of fixations provide evidence to the type of mental representations guiding search. When the 2 targets are dissimilar, they are apparently encoded as separate and discrete representations. The fixation patterns for more similar targets can be explained with either 2 discrete target representations or a single, unitary range containing the target colors as well as the colors between them in color space.
authors: Department of Psychology, Merrimack College, North Andover, MA 01845, USA. stroudm@merrimack.edu
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Stroud
authors: Tamaryn
authors: T
authors: Menneer
authors: Kyle R
authors: KR
authors: Cave
authors: Nick
authors: N
authors: Donnelly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult