Probability cueing of singleton-distractor locations in visual search: Priority-map- versus dimension-based inhibition?

Zhang, Bei; Allenmark, Fredrik; Liesefeld, Heinrich R.; Shi, Zhuanghua; Müller, Hermann J. · 2019 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1037/xhp0000652

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Summary

This study investigates the cognitive mechanisms underlying statistical learning of distractor locations in visual search, specifically addressing a theoretical conflict regarding where spatial suppression occurs within the attentional system. While it is established that observers learn to suppress salient distractors at frequent locations to reduce interference, it remains unclear whether this suppression operates at the "priority map" (a supra-dimensional level integrating all feature signals) or at the "dimension-based" level (suppressing only the specific feature dimension defining the distractor, such as color). Previous studies yielded contradictory results: Wang and Theeuwes (2018) found slowed target processing at frequent distractor locations, supporting priority-map suppression, whereas Sauter et al. (2018) found no such effect, supporting dimension-based suppression. The current research aims to resolve this impasse by identifying the methodological factors driving these divergent findings. The authors conducted a series of experiments using an additional-singleton paradigm where participants searched for a shape-defined target amidst distractors defined by color. Experiment 1 replicated Wang and Theeuwes’ design with 24 participants performing 3,000 trials to robustly test for inter-trial positional effects. The results confirmed both a distractor location effect (reduced interference at frequent locations) and a target location effect (slower reaction times for targets at frequent distractor locations), consistent with priority-map suppression. However, subsequent experiments manipulated critical confounds present in the original paradigm, specifically the likelihood of the target appearing at the frequent location and the predictability of the distractor’s color. Crucially, when the experimental design was modified to make the target equally likely to appear at the frequent distractor location and to ensure consistent color assignments for distractors, the target location effect was abolished. Despite this change, the reduction in distractor interference at frequent locations remained intact. These findings indicate that the target location effect observed in previous studies was driven by specific paradigm cues rather than a fixed locus of suppression. The study concludes that the locus of spatial distractor suppression is flexible, operating either at the priority map or the dimension-specific level depending on the prominence of distractor-related cues provided by the task. This suggests that the visual system adapts its suppression strategy based on the statistical regularities and feature predictability inherent in the visual environment.

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• visual search