The Foreground Bias: Initial Scene Representations across the Depth Plane

When you walk into a large room, you perceive visual information that is both close to you in depth and farther in the background. Here, we investigated how initial scene representations are affected by information across depth. We examined the role of background and foreground information on scene gist by using Chimera scenes (images with foreground and background from different scene categories). Across three experiments, we found a Foreground Bias in which foreground information initially had a strong influence on the interpretation of the scene. This bias persisted when the initial fixation position was on the scene background and when the task was changed to emphasize scene information. We conclude that the Foreground Bias arises from initial processing of scenes for understanding and suggests that scene information closer to the observer is initially prioritized. We discuss the implications for theories of scene and depth perception

The Foreground Bias: Initial Scene Representations across the Depth Plane

When you walk into a large room, you perceive visual information that is both close to you in depth and farther in the background. Here, we investigated how initial scene representations are affected by information across depth. We examined the role of background and foreground information on scene gist by using Chimera scenes (images with foreground and background from different scene categories). Across three experiments, we found a Foreground Bias in which foreground information initially had a strong influence on the interpretation of the scene. This bias persisted when the initial fixation position was on the scene background and when the task was changed to emphasize scene information. We conclude that the Foreground Bias arises from initial processing of scenes for understanding and suggests that scene information closer to the observer is initially prioritized. We discuss the implications for theories of scene and depth perception

Scene-context Interference during Multiple Object Search

In this study we will examine whether targets co-occurance within one contextual region of a real-world scene affects efficiency of serial and parallel search for two targets

Optimizing the reading of electronic text using rapid serial visual presentation

Abstract. The focus on communications technology in recent years has led to the question of how to best display electronic text onto small-screened devices. Past studies have shown that the compact method of rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) is e � cient but not well liked. Two experiments were conducted to explore ways of improving the preference for and feasibility of RSVP. In experiment 1, the eŒects of a completion meter, punctuation pauses, and variable word duration were studied. Although the sentence-by-sentence and normal page formats were still superior, post-experiment ratings indicated that punctuation pauses improved user preference for RSVP, and its preference increased in general with practice. In experiment 2, a modi ® ed RSVP condition included a completion meter, punctuation pauses, interruption pauses and pauses at clause boundaries. This condition was signi ® cantly preferred to a normal RSVP condition. The present enhancements may increase the feasibility of using RSVP with small displays. 1

The Changing Landscape: High-Level Influences on Eye Movement Guidance in Scenes

The use of eye movements to explore scene processing has exploded over the last decade. Eye movements provide distinct advantages when examining scene processing because they are both fast and spatially measurable. By using eye movements, researchers have investigated many questions about scene processing. Our review will focus on research performed in the last decade examining: (1) attention and eye movements; (2) where you look; (3) influence of task; (4) memory and scene representations; and (5) dynamic scenes and eye movements. Although typically addressed as separate issues, we argue that these distinctions are now holding back research progress. Instead, it is time to examine the intersections of these seemingly separate influences and examine the intersectionality of how these influences interact to more completely understand what eye movements can tell us about scene processing

Detailed Visual Memory for Objects in Scenes following Intentional and Incidental Learning Tasks

this memory can be acquired incidentally. In both experiments, participants performed an intentional (Memorization) and an incidental (Visual Search) learning task while viewing photographs of real-world scenes. A memory test for previously viewed objects from both tasks then followed. Participants were not aware that they would be tested on the scenes in the Visual Search task. In two types of memory tests for specific visual information, performance in the Visual Search condition was above chance and did not differ significantly from Memorization Task performance. Results suggest that detailed visual information is encoded regardless of task instruction. The perceptual experience of a stable and detailed visual world has led many vision researchers in the past to conclude that the visual representation formed for a scene is veridical and complete (McConkie & Rayner, 1976; Neisser, 1967). These theories proposed that a complete representation is made by lining-up, overlaying, and fusing snap-shots taken over successive fixations. Many of these theories were based on research in scene memory, which showed that observers could recognize a vast number of previously viewed photographs with high accuracy (Nickerson, 1965; Shepard, 1967; Standing, 1973). Recent evidence challenges the existence of such a representation. Studies of transsaccadic memory have shown that visual information is not fused across saccades (Bridgeman, Hendry, & Stark, 1975; Irwin, Yantis & Jonides, 1983; McConkie & Zola, 1979; Rayner & Pollatsek, 1983). The failure to fuse images across saccades has been replicated with simple patterns (Irwin et al., 1983), visual features of words (O'Regan & Levy-Schoen, 1983), and contours of objects, (Henderson, 1997). Without the ability to fuse visual informatio..

Eye movements when looking at unusual/weird scenes: Are there cultural differences?

Recent studies have suggested that eye movement patterns while viewing scenes differ for people from different cultural backgrounds and that these differences in how scenes are viewed are due to differences in the prioritization of information (background or foreground). The current study examined whether there are cultural differences in how quickly eye movements are drawn to highly unusual aspects of a scene. American and Chinese viewers examined photographic scenes while performing a preference rating task. For each scene, participants were presented with either a normal or an unusual/weird version. Even though there were differences between the normal and weird versions of the scenes, there was no evidence of any cultural differences while viewing either scene type. The present study, along with other recent reports, raises doubts about the notion that cultural differences can influence oculomotor control in scene perception