Intra- and cross-dimensional visual search for single-feature targets

Cohen, Asher; Magen, Hagit · 1999 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3758/bf03206889

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Summary

This study investigates the mechanisms underlying visual search efficiency, specifically comparing intra-dimensional search (where targets differ from distractors along a single dimension, such as color) with cross-dimensional search (where different targets differ along different dimensions, such as color and orientation). Previous research suggested that intra-dimensional search is more efficient because participants can maintain a constant set of relevant features, whereas cross-dimensional search requires detecting the relevant dimension on each trial. The authors challenge this "search-based" explanation, proposing instead that the observed differences are due to response selection processes. They hypothesize that the specific mapping of stimuli to responses determines search efficiency, a claim supported by a cross-dimensional response selection model. To test this hypothesis, the authors conducted four experiments using a visual search paradigm where participants identified targets among distractors. Crucially, unlike previous studies that used a single response for any target presence, Experiments 1–3 required participants to make distinct responses for each specific target type. Experiment 1 used homogeneous distractors; Experiment 2 used heterogeneous distractors to rule out simple "difference detection" strategies; and Experiment 3 included a singleton distractor. Experiment 4 employed a priming design to test alternative explanations involving grouping processes. The stimuli consisted of colored lines varying in orientation and color, with array sizes ranging from 4 to 24 items. Reaction times (RTs) and error rates were measured to assess search efficiency. The results from Experiments 1–3 contradicted previous findings. Contrary to the expectation that cross-dimensional search would be slower, the data showed that cross-dimensional search was at least as efficient as, and in some cases faster than, intra-dimensional search. Specifically, when comparing identical targets across tasks, RTs for targets in the cross-dimensional condition were often lower than those in the intra-dimensional conditions. These findings held true regardless of whether distractors were homogeneous or heterogeneous. The flat array-size slopes in all tasks indicated that single-feature targets "popped out" in both conditions. Experiment 4 further ruled out explanations based on perceptual grouping processes. The study concludes that the efficiency difference between intra- and cross-dimensional search is not driven by perceptual search processes, as previously thought, but by response selection mechanisms. The authors argue that the stimulus-to-response mapping is the critical factor: intra-dimensional tasks may appear faster in prior studies only because of specific response mappings that favor single-dimension processing. By altering this mapping, the advantage disappears or reverses. This finding supports the cross-dimensional response selection model, which posits that separate dimensional modules have distinct response selection processes. The implications suggest that theories of visual attention must account for response selection dynamics, not just perceptual feature detection, to fully explain visual search performance.

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Topics

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• visual search
• inattentional change blindness