Confirming the existence of a within-array novel pop-out effect using a novel procedure

Abstract

ABSTRACT The within-array novel pop-out effect occurs when a novel item within a display is more quickly and accurately detected than familiar items. This study strengthens the evidence for this effect by using a novel procedure that controls for previously unaddressed confounds. Two experiments presented participants with item arrays that were either all familiar, all novel, or a mix of familiar and novel items. Items were made novel or familiar through a pre-exposure phase, but this phase was made irrelevant to the test demands. The results showed a robust novel pop-out effect, even under conditions of minimal stimulus similarity, no memory load, and using displays that were not always task relevant. These findings provide strong support for the existence of the within-array novel pop-out effect, and they highlight the importance of careful experimental design in demonstrating this phenomenon.