Search Task Research Articles

Effect of Music and Perceptual Load on Decision Making

There are various kinds of information present in the environment, due to which it affects an individual’s ability to accurately detect and distinguish information. Therefore, the current study aims at understanding the effect of perceptual load (high load and low load) and music (tempo) on decision making (i.e., during a conjunction search task). 62 participants were recruited for the experiment and the responses were collected through Open Sesame. The participants were asked to report whether a red circle is present or absent, while listening to music. Two-way Anova, one-way Anova and student’s t-test were employed. The results indicate that perceptual load does not have a significant effect on the accuracy of responses. However, tempo of the music has a significant effect on the accuracy of responses (pes=0.08), in a conjunction search task. There is a significant difference between the proportion of hits and correct rejections, across different perceptual and tempo conditions. Students and workers listen to various kinds of music during their task involving varying levels of difficulty and perceptual systems. The perception during this process can either be facilitated or hindered with. Various studies have investigated upon the influence of music (i.e., classical, jazz, pop) but only few have focused upon Bollywood music with varying tempo.

Individuals with high autism traits show top-down attention bias towards threatening stimuli

Individuals with autistic traits (AT) are widely distributed in the general population. Strengthening understanding of AT can provide a broader perspective for autism research as well as more accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans for clinical practice. Previous studies on attention bias among high-AT individuals have yielded inconsistent results, which may relate to different stages of attention. In this study, we selected two groups with high and low level AT from the general population, and then adopted the odd-one-out search task, combined with Event-related potential (ERP) technique, conducted both attention orientation and attention dissociation tasks, to explore attention bias and electroencephalogram (EEG) characteristics towards threatening emotional faces in these groups. The behavioral data showed no accelerated attention orientation to angry faces and neutral faces; however, there was attention dissociation difficulty for angry faces. Compared with low-AT individuals, the EEG results showed that high-AT individuals have acceleration of attention orientation and attention dissociation difficulty for threatening emotional faces. From the perspective of top-down concept-driven processing, these findings suggest that high-AT individuals have attention bias for cognitive processing of threatening stimuli, which is mainly due to acceleration of attention orientation and attention dissociation difficulties for threatening information.

Multisensory working memory capture of attention.

During visual search, representations in working memory (WM) can guide the deployment of attention toward memory-matching visual input. Although previous studies have demonstrated that multisensory interactions facilitate WM and visual search, it remains unclear whether multisensory interaction influences attentional capture by WM. To address this issue, the present study adopted a dual-task paradigm, pairing a visual search task with a WM task, in which the memory modality was manipulated to be either visual or audiovisual. The results revealed that memory-driven attentional capture was observed under the visual and the audiovisual condition. Additionally, the capture effects and response time (RT) costs under the audiovisual condition were weaker than those under the visual condition, even on the trials with the earliest RTs. Furthermore, RT benefits under the audiovisual condition were comparable with those under the visual condition. These findings suggest that multisensory interactions can enhance cognitive control, leading to robust strategic effects and improved search performance. In this process, cognitive control tends to suppress the attentional capture by WM-matching distractors rather than enhance the attentional capture by WM-matching targets. The present study offers new insights into the influence of multisensory interactions on attentional capture by WM.

Human-machine plan conflict and conflict resolution in a visual search task

With rapid technological development, humans are more likely to cooperatively work with intelligence systems in everyday life and work. Similar to interpersonal teamwork, the effectiveness of human-machine teams is affected by conflicts. Some human-machine conflict scenarios occur when neither the human nor the system was at fault, for example, when the human and the system formulated different but equally effective plans to achieve the same goal. In this study, we conducted two experiments to explore the effects of human-machine plan conflict and the different conflict resolution approaches (human adapting to the system, system adapting to the human, and transparency design) in a computer-aided visual search task. The results of the first experiment showed that when conflicts occurred, the participants reported higher mental load during the task, performed worse, and provided lower subjective evaluations towards the aid. The second experiment showed that all three conflict resolution approaches were effective in maintaining task performance, however, only the transparency design and the human adapting to the system approaches were effective in reducing mental load and improving subjective evaluations. The results highlighted the need to design appropriate human-machine conflict resolution strategies to optimize system performance and user experience.

Searching for the alerting effect: the optimal SOA is longer in compound – than in simple – search tasks.

Searching for the alerting effect: the optimal SOA is longer in compound – than in simple – search tasks.

Training on a difficult search task improves untrained easier search as well

Training on a difficult search task improves untrained easier search as well

Modeling negatively accelerating search slopes in a relational search task

Modeling negatively accelerating search slopes in a relational search task

Impact of Flashbangs on Eye-Behavior while Navigating and Performing Visual Search Tasks in Stressful Open-World Environments

Impact of Flashbangs on Eye-Behavior while Navigating and Performing Visual Search Tasks in Stressful Open-World Environments

Brief adaptation leads to faster reaction times in a face search task

Brief adaptation leads to faster reaction times in a face search task

Saccadic Latency Differences Between C-Section and Vaginally-Delivered Infants and Adults in a Visual Search Task

Saccadic Latency Differences Between C-Section and Vaginally-Delivered Infants and Adults in a Visual Search Task

We Need an Ontology of Visual Search Tasks

We Need an Ontology of Visual Search Tasks

The role of facial distinctiveness in the prioritisation of targets in disjunctive dual-target face search

Two experiments explored the search for pairs of faces in a disjunctive dual-target face search (DDTFS) task for unfamiliar face targets. The distinctiveness of the target was manipulated such that both faces were typical or distinctive or contained one typical and one distinctive target. Targets were searched for in arrays of eight faces. In Experiment 1, participants completed a DDTFS block with targets learnt over the block of trials. In Experiment 2, the dual-target block was preceded by two training blocks of single-target trials. Participants also completed the upright and inverted long-form Cambridge Face Memory Test (CFMT+). The results showed that searching for two typical faces leads to one target being prioritised at the expense of the other. The ability to search for non-prioritised typical faces was associated with scores on the CFMT+. This association disappeared when faces were learnt before completing DDTFS. We interpret the findings in terms of the impact of typicality on face learning, individual differences in the ability to learn faces, and the involvement of capacity-limited working memory in the search for unfamiliar faces. The findings have implications for security-related situations where agents must search for multiple unfamiliar faces having been shown their images.

A - 7 An Examination of the Predictive Roles of Healthy Literacy and Age in Online and Print Health Information Search Performance among Older Adults

Abstract Objective As older adults increasingly seek health information online, evaluating complex technology-based everyday behaviors is important. This study examined the predictive roles of health literacy and age in health information search accuracy across online and print sources. Methods Participants were 96 community-dwelling older adults (age: M = 70.09, SD = 8.69; education: M = 16.57, SD = 2.14; 75% female; 96.88% White). Participants completed the Newest Vital Sign, a health literacy measure that required participants to interpret verbal and numerical information on a nutrition label, and a health search task (HST), which examined the ability to navigate web and print sources to search for health information. Results A multiple regression was conducted in which HST accuracy was regressed onto health literacy and age for web and print subtasks separately. Cognitive status (MoCA total score) was a covariate. Although health literacy was not a significant predictor of HST accuracy, age was a significant predictor for the web-based subtask, β = −0.29, b = −0.05, SEb = 0.02, 95% CI [−0.08, −0.02], t(92) = −2.94, p = 0.004, and cognitive status for the print-based subtask, β = 0.36, b = 0.18, SEb = 0.05, 95% CI [0.08, −0.28], t(92) = 3.50, p = 0.001. Conclusions Compared to health literacy, age and cognitive status were stronger predictors of health information search performance across online and print sources in community-dwelling older adults. Future studies should consider the impact of age and comfort with technology in examining older adults’ ability to successfully navigate online health sources.

Are selection history effects limited to implicit forms of memory? Evidence from intertrial repetition.

Selection history effects in visual attention are typically considered implicit memory effects. In three experiments, we investigated if a key selection history effect, intertrial priming, could be based on the incidental application of explicit memory. In the basic search task (Experiment 1), participants searched for real-world objects from different categories. We examined nonpredictive, intertrial repetition at two levels: (1) the repetition of target location from trial N-1 to trial N and (2) the repetition of target location and color within a category. Reliable repetition advantages were observed at both levels. In Experiments 2-4, we examined whether participants had explicit access to the target values driving the selection history effects here. In Experiments 2 and 3, participants could reliably report the properties of the immediately preceding search target. In Experiment 4, participants could reliably report the properties of the last target exemplar they had found in each of the 36 categories. These data indicate that guidance by selection history was based on the nonstrategic application of memory representations that could be explicitly retrieved and reported. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Speed and Reliability of Touch vs Mouse Inputs in Visual Foraging

Abstract Traditional visual attention research predominantly employs a visual search paradigm focused on identifying a single target within a scene. This approach, however, may not fully encapsulate the complexities of natural environmental interactions, which often involve multiple decisions and actions. Addressing this gap, recent advancements have introduced touch-screen-based foraging tasks, where participants are required to identify and cancel multiple targets through tactile interaction. Despite its intuitive appeal, the widespread adoption of this methodology has been limited. This article explores the computer mouse as a viable alternative for target cancellation in such foraging tasks. We conducted an experiment comparing search performance between touch and mouse inputs in a visual foraging task, requiring participants to locate and interact with a known target multiple times under various search types. Our findings indicate that while mouse responses are marginally slower, the variance in response times is consistent across both input modalities. Contrary to expectations, we observed no significant disadvantages when employing the mouse as opposed to touch screens. The results suggest that the computer mouse is a competent and underutilized tool in visual attention research, offering a comparable and effective alternative to touch-based devices for complex search tasks.

Unveiling the influence of persuasion strategies on cognitive engagement: an ERPs study on attentional search.

This study aimed to investigate how central versus peripheral persuasion methods, delivered through rational and emotional persuasion strategies, influence cognitive engagement and information processing during visual search tasks. Participants were allocated into four groups based on the media type (video vs. text) and the persuasion route (central vs. peripheral). The early and late stages of attentional processing were examined through the N1, P2, and P3 ERP components. The results demonstrated a pronounced N1 amplitude in response to text-based peripheral persuasion, indicating enhanced early attentional engagement. Additionally, parallel search tasks revealed a larger P3 amplitude for central versus peripheral routes, suggesting significant cognitive resource allocation during tasks requiring higher attention. These findings underscore the nuanced role of persuasive strategies in modulating attentional resources and cognitive processing. The study offers insights into designing more effective communication messages and highlights the potential for tailored persuasion approaches to influence audience engagement and information processing, with implications for public health campaigns and beyond.

Knowing where to go: Spatial memory guides eye and body movements in a naturalistic visual search task.

Most research on visual search has used simple tasks presented on a computer screen. However, in natural situations visual search almost always involves eye, head, and body movements in a three-dimensional (3D) environment. The different constraints imposed by these two types of search tasks might explain some of the discrepancies in our understanding concerning the use of memory resources and the role of contextual objects during search. To explore this issue, we analyzed a visual search task performed in an immersive virtual reality apartment. Participants searched for a series of geometric 3D objects while eye movements and head coordinates were recorded. Participants explored the apartment to locate target objects whose location and visibility were manipulated. For objects with reliable locations, we found that repeated searches led to a decrease in search time and number of fixations and to a reduction of errors. Searching for those objects that had been visible in previous trials but were only tested at the end of the experiment was also easier than finding objects for the first time, indicating incidental learning of context. More importantly, we found that body movements showed changes that reflected memory for target location: trajectories were shorter and movement velocities were higher, but only for those objects that had been searched for multiple times. We conclude that memory of 3D space and target location is a critical component of visual search and also modifies movement kinematics. In natural search, memory is used to optimize movement control and reduce energetic costs.

Graphical similarity of cartographic symbols in a map-based search task

Graphical similarity of cartographic symbols in a map-based search task

Multi Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Distributed Collaborative Search Method Based on a Fuzzy Clustering Map and Policy Iteration

Collaborative search with multiple Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) significantly enhances search efficiency compared to the use of a single AUV, facilitating the rapid completion of extensive search tasks. However, challenges arise in underwater environments characterized by weak communication and dynamic complexities. In large marine areas, the limited endurance of a single AUV makes it impossible to cover the entire area, necessitating a collaborative approach using multiple AUVs. Addressing the limited prior information available in uncertain marine environments, this paper proposes a map-construction method using fuzzy clustering based on regional importance. Furthermore, a collaborative search method for large marine areas has been designed using a policy-iteration-based reinforcement learning algorithm. Through continuous sensing and interaction during the marine search process, multiple AUVs constantly update the map of regional importance and iteratively optimize the collaborative search strategy to achieve higher search gains. Simulation results confirm the effective utilization of limited information in uncertain environments and demonstrate enhanced search gains in collaborative scenarios.

Intelligent decision-making algorithm for airborne phased array radar search tasks based on a hierarchical strategy framework

To address the guided search task of airborne phased array radar in the scenarios of large airspace with widespread distribution of cluster targets in Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air combat, a hierarchical strategy framework based on deep reinforcement learning is proposed to guide different stages of search tasks. Firstly, an airspace set-covering model and a radar parameter optimization model for the guided search task of cluster targets are established. Secondly, the hierarchical strategy framework including upper-level and lower-level strategies is constructed based on the above models. Finally, the happo-rgs algorithm is proposed for feature extraction from Markov continuous observation sequences, to enhance the training effectiveness and improve the algorithm convergence speed. Simulation results show that the trained agent can make precise autonomous decisions rapidly based on airspace-target covering situation and target guidance information which significantly improves the radar search performance in the forementioned scenarios compared to traditional algorithms.