Parallel Search for a Conjunction of Color and Orientation: Evidence forSequential Preattentive Parallel Processing

摘要

The present study shows that search for a conjunction of color and orientationcan be performed in parallel when the target is embedded in a homogeneous colored subgroup of nontarget elements. The results provide evidence for the notion of sequential global-to-local parallel processing in which the first global stage allows the rejection of one subgroup of elements followed by a second local stage which rejects the local subgroup of elements. Experiment 1 shows that parallel search for a conjunction target can only occur when the elements are spatially grouped. Experiment 2 shows that parallel processing of a conjunction target is not limited to small display sizes but also occur in displays consisting of 49 elements. Implications of the present findings for current theories of visual search are discussed.