Visual search is guided to categorically-defined targets

• Published in: Vision research (Oxford) Vol. 49; no. 16; pp. 2095 - 2103
• Main Authors: Yang, Hyejin, Zelinsky, Gregory J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Categorical guidance; Categorization; Computer Graphics; Cues; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Eye movements; Fixation, Ocular - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Object detection; Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology; Psychophysics; Reaction Time; Saccades - physiology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Visual attention; Categorical guidance; Eye movements; Categorization; Visual attention; Object detection; Visual search; Vision; Eye movement
• ISSN: 0042-6989; 1878-5646; 1878-5646
• DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2009.05.017

To determine whether categorical search is guided we had subjects search for teddy bear targets either with a target preview (specific condition) or without (categorical condition). Distractors were random realistic objects. Although subjects searched longer and made more eye movements in the categorical condition, targets were fixated far sooner than was expected by chance. By varying target repetition we also determined that this categorical guidance was not due to guidance from specific previously viewed targets. We conclude that search is guided to categorically-defined targets, and that this guidance uses a categorical model composed of features common to the target class.