Do all visual-search tasks, even pop-out tasks, require attention?
” Perception 36 ECVP Abstract Supplement Do all visual-search tasks, even pop-out tasks, require attention? P Poiese, T M Spalek, V Di Lollo In feature integration theory, pop-out visual search was said to be done preattentively, a viewpoint that has been seriously questioned by later evidence which was obtained exclusively with dual-task paradigms. Using single-task paradigms, we showed that (a) enumeration within the subitizing range requires attention, (b) detection of a pop-out orientation target is impaired by a salient task-irrelevant colour distractor, and (c) that detection of a pop-out target is facilitated by a spatial cue. Collectively, these outcomes are inconsistent with a preattentive view and point to the necessity for attentional involvement in all visual-search tasks, including pop-out searches. [Supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.] These web-based abstracts are provided for ease of seaching and access, but certain aspects (suc
