Abstract
There is much debate about how detection, categorization, and within-category identification relate to one another during object recognition. Whether these tasks rely on partially shared perceptual mechanisms may be determined by testing whether training on one of these tasks facilitates performance on another. In the present study we asked whether expertise in discriminating objects improves the detection of these objects in naturalistic scenes. Self-proclaimed car experts (N = 34) performed a car discrimination task to establish their level of expertise, followed by a visual search task where they were asked to detect cars and people in hundreds of photographs of natural scenes. Results revealed that expertise in discriminating cars was strongly correlated with car detection accuracy. This effect was specific to objects of expertise, as there was no influence of car expertise on person detection. These results indicate a close link between object discrimination and object detection performance, which we interpret as reflecting partially shared perceptual mechanisms and neural representations underlying these tasks: the increased sensitivity of the visual system for objects of expertise – as a result of extensive discrimination training – may benefit both the discrimination and the detection of these objects. Alternative interpretations are also discussed.
Highlights
There is much debate about how detection, categorization, and within-category identification relate to one another during object recognition
To gain further insight into the effect of within-category identification ability on simple categorization and detection, in the current study we investigated the influence of perceptual expertise on category detection in natural scenes
If perceptual expertise is associated with improved category detection, we expected car expertise to be correlated with car detection performance
Summary
There is much debate about how detection, categorization, and within-category identification relate to one another during object recognition. It is possible that selection bias may have played a role in shaping the observed effects; that is, car experts may have found experimental blocks of the car detection task more interesting than blocks of the bird detection task (and vice versa for bird experts), leading to significant performance differences that were due to non-specific differences in motivation and vigilance rather than to perceptual expertise per se To circumvent these concerns, we tested a large group of selfproclaimed car experts and correlated their degree of objectively assessed car discrimination expertise with performance on a visual search task that involved detecting cars in natural scene photographs. This approach obviates the need for a novice control group, thereby greatly reducing the possibility that results could be contaminated by selection biases
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
