Asymmetric learning of dynamic spatial regularities

It is possible to improve attentional guidance by learning statistical regularities of the static spatial layout of the target and distractors within the search display. However, there is still controversy surrounding whether statistical learning can be applied to dynamic regularities governing the placement of targets and distractors on successive trials. To investigate this, Yu and colleagues (2023) conducted two experiments where we applied a one-step shift of the critical item in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to either the target or a distractor (see figure below). Our findings showed that there was robust learning of the predicted target location, resulting in easier processing of the target at that specific location compared to random target placement. However, there was little evidence of proactive suppression of the predictable distractor location, in contrast to the finding of Wang et al. (2021). Interestingly, a recent study also concurs with our findings, indicating that there is no evidence for spatial suppression due to across-trial distractor learning (Li et al., 2023).

Figure 1. **(a)** Illustration of three cross-trial target- or, respectively, distractor-location transitions in Experiment 1. In each experiment, there were three types of the location change of the critical item (target or distractor) across consecutive trials: with 80% probability, the critical item would move to the adjacent location, either in clockwise or counterclockwise direction (here, indicated by the red dashed circle marking the frequent location). The direction was for a given participant and counterbalanced across participants. With 10% probability, the critical item would shift to the adjacent location in the opposite direction (indicated by the green dashed circle marking the infrequent location). On the remaining 10% of trials, the critical item would move randomly to any of the other locations, including re-appearing at the same location (indicated by the yellow dashed circle marking a random location). **(b)** Schematic illustration of two types of search display in which we implemented the cross-trial transitional regularity of the critical item (marked by white dashed circles, which were not presented in the experiments) to the left. The critical item was a color singleton distractor in Experiment 1a, and the shape-defined target in Experiment 1b. (Adapted from Yu et al., 2023, JEP:HPP)

References

Yu, H., Allenmark, F., Müller, H. J., & Shi, Z. (2023). Asymmetric learning of dynamic spatial regularities in visual search: Robust facilitation of predictable target locations, fragile suppression of distractor locations. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 49(5), 709–724. https://doi.org/10.1037/xhp0001120
Wang, L., Wang, B., & Theeuwes, J. (2021). Across-trial spatial suppression in visual search. Attention, Perception & Psychophysics. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-021-02341-x
Li, A.-S., Bogaerts, L., & Theeuwes, J. (2023). No evidence for spatial suppression due to across-trial distractor learning in visual search. Attention, Perception & Psychophysics. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-023-02667-8

MSense Lab, LMU Munich

Asymmetric learning of dynamic spatial regularities

Recent Posts

Categories

Tags