Watson, Derrick G., Maylor, Elizabeth A., Allen, Gareth E. J. and Bruce, Lucy A. M.. (2007) Early visual tagging : effects of target-distractor similarity and old age on search, subitization, and counting. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, Vol.33 (No.3). pp. 549-569. ISSN 0096-1523

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Abstract

Three experiments examined the effects of target- distractor (T-D) similarity and old age on the efficiency of searching for single targets and enumerating multiple targets. Experiment 1 showed that increasing T-D similarity selectively reduced the efficiency of enumerating small (< 4) numerosities (subitizing) but had little effect on enumerating larger numerosities (counting) or searching for a single target. Experiment 2 provided converging evidence using fixation frequencies and a finer range of T-D similarities. Experiment 3 showed that T-D similarity had a greater impact on older than on young adults, but only for subitizing. The data are discussed in terms of the mechanisms and architecture of early visual tagging, dissociable effects in search and enumeration, and the effects of aging on visual processing.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Psychology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Visual perception, Eye — Movements, Human information processing -- Age factors, Cognition in old age, Cognition — Age factors, Number concept, Numeration
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance
Publisher:	American Psychological Association/Educational Publishing Foundation
ISSN:	0096-1523
Date:	June 2007
Volume:	Vol.33
Number:	No.3
Number of Pages:	21
Page Range:	pp. 549-569
Identification Number:	10.1037/0096-1523.33.3.549
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Funder:	Economic and Social Research Council (Great Britain) (ESRC)
Grant number:	R000239180 (ESRC)
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/31883

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