Parallel distractor rejection as a binding mechanism in search
The relatively common experimental visual search task of finding a red X amongst red O’s and green X’s (conjunction search) presents the visual system with a binding problem. Illusory conjunctions (ICs) of features across objects must be avoided and only features present in the same object bound tog...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers
2012
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2577/ |
| _version_ | 1848790821173723136 |
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| author | Dent, Kevin Allen, Harriet A. Braithwaite, Jason J. Humphreys, Glyn W. |
| author_facet | Dent, Kevin Allen, Harriet A. Braithwaite, Jason J. Humphreys, Glyn W. |
| author_sort | Dent, Kevin |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The relatively common experimental visual search task of finding a red X amongst red O’s and green X’s (conjunction search) presents the visual system with a binding problem. Illusory conjunctions (ICs) of features across objects must be avoided and only features present in the same object bound together. Correct binding into unique objects by the visual system may be promoted, and ICs minimized, by inhibiting the locations of distractors possessing non-target features (e.g., Treisman and Sato, 1990). Such parallel rejection of interfering distractors leaves the target as the only item competing for selection; thus solving the binding problem. In the present article we explore the theoretical and empirical basis of this process of active distractor inhibition in search. Specific experiments that provide strong evidence for a process of active distractor inhibition in search are highlighted. In the final part of the article we consider how distractor inhibition, as defined here, may be realized at a neurophysiological level (Treisman and Sato, 1990). |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T18:18:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-2577 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T18:18:42Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | Frontiers |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-25772020-05-04T16:33:50Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2577/ Parallel distractor rejection as a binding mechanism in search Dent, Kevin Allen, Harriet A. Braithwaite, Jason J. Humphreys, Glyn W. The relatively common experimental visual search task of finding a red X amongst red O’s and green X’s (conjunction search) presents the visual system with a binding problem. Illusory conjunctions (ICs) of features across objects must be avoided and only features present in the same object bound together. Correct binding into unique objects by the visual system may be promoted, and ICs minimized, by inhibiting the locations of distractors possessing non-target features (e.g., Treisman and Sato, 1990). Such parallel rejection of interfering distractors leaves the target as the only item competing for selection; thus solving the binding problem. In the present article we explore the theoretical and empirical basis of this process of active distractor inhibition in search. Specific experiments that provide strong evidence for a process of active distractor inhibition in search are highlighted. In the final part of the article we consider how distractor inhibition, as defined here, may be realized at a neurophysiological level (Treisman and Sato, 1990). Frontiers 2012-08-09 Article PeerReviewed Dent, Kevin, Allen, Harriet A., Braithwaite, Jason J. and Humphreys, Glyn W. (2012) Parallel distractor rejection as a binding mechanism in search. Frontiers in Psychology, 3 (278). ISSN 1664-1078 http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00278/abstract doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00278 doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00278 |
| spellingShingle | Dent, Kevin Allen, Harriet A. Braithwaite, Jason J. Humphreys, Glyn W. Parallel distractor rejection as a binding mechanism in search |
| title | Parallel distractor rejection as a binding mechanism in search |
| title_full | Parallel distractor rejection as a binding mechanism in search |
| title_fullStr | Parallel distractor rejection as a binding mechanism in search |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parallel distractor rejection as a binding mechanism in search |
| title_short | Parallel distractor rejection as a binding mechanism in search |
| title_sort | parallel distractor rejection as a binding mechanism in search |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2577/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2577/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2577/ |