Spatial constraints on learning in visual search: Modeling contextual cuing.

Abstract

Predictive visual context facilitates visual search, a benefit termed contextual cuing (M. M. Chun & Y. Jiang, 1998). In the original task, search arrays were repeated across blocks such that the spatial configuration (context) of all of the distractors in a display predicted an embedded target location. The authors modeled existing results using a connectionist architecture and then designed new behavioral experiments to test the model's assumptions. The modeling and behavioral results indicate that learning may be restricted to the local context even when the entire configuration is predictive of target location. Local learning constrains how much guidance is produced by contextual cuing. The modeling and new data also demonstrate that local learning requires that the local context maintain its location in the overall global context.

A Configural Dominant Account of Contextual Cueing: Configural Cues are Stronger than Colour Cues

“…Contextual cueing effects have been shown to occur with cues such as distracter configurations (e.g., Chun & Jiang, 1998, Brady & Chun, 2007, background colours (Kunar et al, 2006) and naturalistic scenes (Brockmole & Henderson, 2006a, 2006b). This paper compared the influence of background colours and distracter configurations on contextual cueing.…”

“…Both conditions consisted of a Training Phase, which established learning, and a Test Phase, which measured CC (see also Brady & Chun, 2007, Makovski & Jiang, 2010, Kunar & Wolfe, 2011. The Training Phase consisted of seven epochs.…”

“…In the standard version of contextual cueing the layout of the distracters cued the target's location (Chun & Jiang, 1998). Brady and Chun (2007) suggested that in these types of display it was the association between the target and its nearby surrounding distracters that were important in obtaining a facilitation effect (see also Wolfe, 2011 andOlson &Chun, 2002). When these local associations were preserved a contextual cueing effect was seen even in cases where the rest of the display changed (Brady & Chun, 2007;Olson & Chun, 2002).…”

Configural learning in contextual cuing of visual search.

“…Thus, on the basis of these findings, the close proximity of cues within the same modality in the contextual cuing task would be expected to result in configural processing of the display. Previous data have shown that the proximity of distractors to the target is imperative for strong contextual cuing effects (e.g., Olson & Chun, 2002;Brady & Chun, 2007).…”

“…These associations modulate the activation that passes forward to target output units; refinement of the associative network -driven by error-correction processes -leads to more accurate (and hence faster) target detection. Brady and Chun's (2007) elemental model of contextual cuing can be contrasted with a model that forms a configural representation of each presented pattern of distractors. According to models that embody such a configural means of representing stimuli (e.g., Pearce, 1987), the pattern of stimulation as a whole is stored as a unified representation, and it is this configuration of the elements that itself forms an association with the position of the target.…”