Document Detail


Top-down weighting of visual dimensions: behavioral and electrophysiological evidence.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19925821     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Process    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Visual search for an odd-one-out target is speeded when observers are provided with a cue word indicating the most probable target-defining dimension (e.g., form) on a given trial (Müller, Reimann, & Krummenacher, 2003). According to the 'dimension-weighting' account (e.g., Müller, Heller, & Ziegler, 1995), this semantic cueing effect originates from a pre-attentive processing stage: the coding of stimulus saliency. However, alternative views (e.g., Theeuwes, Reimann, & Mortier, 2006) argue that pre-attentive saliency computations are top-down impenetrable, advocating a response-related origin of this effect. To establish the (pre-attentive and/or post-selective) locus of semantic dimension-cueing effects, the present study examined reaction time (RT) performance in combination with specific event-related brain potential components that are directly linkable to either pre-attentive or post-selective levels of processing. Targets preceded by valid (relative to invalid) cues were associated with faster RTs and both shorter peak latencies and larger amplitudes of the Posterior-Contralateral Negativity (PCN). In addition, dimension changes (relative to repetitions) across consecutive trials were accompanied by delayed PCN latencies, whereas response changes (relative to repetitions) gave rise to enhanced amplitudes of the (response-locked) Lateralised Readiness Potential (LRP). This pattern of effects clearly demonstrates that top-down dimensional sets modulate pre-attentive perceptual processing in the detection of pop-out signals. However, they cannot completely overcome automatic dimension-based weighting processes.
Authors:
Thomas Töllner; Michael Zehetleitner; Klaus Gramann; Hermann J Müller
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2009-11-16
Journal Detail:
Title:  Vision research     Volume:  50     ISSN:  1878-5646     ISO Abbreviation:  Vision Res.     Publication Date:  2010 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-06-23     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0417402     Medline TA:  Vision Res     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1372-81     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany. toellner@psy.uni-muenchen.de
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Contextual effects in speed perception may occur at an early stage of processing.
Next Document:  The changing disparity energy model.