Configural asymmetries in a visual search task

Configural asymmetries refer to a phenomenon in which the orientation of search elements causes an asymmetry in visual performance. Here, we present configural asymmetries with bicolour disk elements (left/right vs. up/down configuration). Reaction time was significantly faster for up/down compared...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Visual cognition 2010-01, Vol.18 (1), p.1-10
Main Authors: Monnier, Patrick, Attarha, Mouna, Edler, Joshua R., Birks, David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activity levels. Psychomotricity
Biological and medical sciences
Configural asymmetries
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Object perception
Perception
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Vigilance. Attention. Sleep
Vision
Visual attention
Visual search
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Summary:Configural asymmetries refer to a phenomenon in which the orientation of search elements causes an asymmetry in visual performance. Here, we present configural asymmetries with bicolour disk elements (left/right vs. up/down configuration). Reaction time was significantly faster for up/down compared to left/right elements. Although extensive practice with the task resulted in better overall search performance, the magnitude of the asymmetries was remarkably resistant to practice. An account of these configural asymmetries based on eye movements was ruled out by presenting displays as flashes (96 ms). Although a more complete description of the factors involved in these configural asymmetries is needed, the effects could be implemented in a model by applying different spatial weights for the processing of objects.
ISSN:1350-6285
1464-0716
DOI:10.1080/13506280902949254