Observer detection and discrimination performance as a function of clutter: a signal detection approach

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the use of signal detection theory (SDT) in predicting target detection and discrimination in disorganized clutter. Two normal observers performed monocular visual search experiments at 25 cm, in the dark. They detected Gabor gratings on an achromatic background cluttered with 2000 or 500 random dots. The targets were displayed at pseudorandom locations from 0–20° and 20–47°, by method of constant stimuli. A contrast-based detection and orientation-based discrimination task was completed in a yes/no or 2-alternative-forced-choice (2AFC) task. The hit rate, false alarm rate, detectability, criterion and bias were analysed. The psychometric function indicated low detection and discrimination thresholds in low clutter that increased in high clutter. Increased clutter showed high hit rates and a false alarm rate that increased with low detectability and liberal criterion. In the detection task, low clutter showed high hit rates and low false alarm rates in the central field. Therefore, SDT proves useful to predict observer performance in visual scenes with disorganized clutter.