Perceptual load theory: Much ado about nothing

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yehoshua Tsal ◽  
Hanna Benoni
Keyword(s):  
Perceptual Load ◽  
Much Ado About Nothing ◽  
Load Theory

scholarly journals TESTING LOAD THEORY OF ATTENTION: IGNORING IRRELEVANT DISTRACTOR

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasilije Gvozdenović ◽  
Marija Milisavljević
Keyword(s):  
Opposite Direction ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Perceptual Load ◽  
Oblique Line ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Choice Response ◽  
Set Size ◽  
Load Theory ◽  
Irrelevant Distractors ◽  
Response Task

Load theory of attention suggests that insufficient capacity for processing prevents subjects from perceiving irrelevant distractor in high perceptual load tasks (LaVie et al, 2004). The aim of our research was to test the proposed theory in visual search task, sinceLavie et al used choice response task in their research. Participants were asked to search for the oblique line among horizontal or vertical ones, while ignoring irrelevant distractor. The independent variables were target presence, task difficulty (depending on the angle of rotation of the target), distractor (there was either no distractor, or the distractor was oriented in the same direction as the target or in the opposite direction) and set size. The dependent variable was reaction time. Only target-present sets were analyzed. Significant effects of the task difficulty (F(1,11)=118.05, p=.000) and distractor (F(2,22)=17.436, p<.01) factors were obtained, as well as significant interaction of task difficulty and distractor (F(2,22)=17.281, p<.01). Analysis showed that in simple tasks there was no effect of irrelevant distractors. In difficult tasks, reaction times were the shortest when there was no irrelevant distractor and the longest when the distractor was rotated in the opposite direction from that of the target. The obtained results suggest that irrelevant distractor disturbs performance only in high perceptual load task, which is not in line withthe assumptions of the load theory.

An episodic specificity interview enhances eyewitness identification under perceptual load and reduces susceptibility to misinformation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ciara Greene ◽  
Daniel L. Schacter
Keyword(s):  
Eyewitness Identification ◽  
Perceptual Load ◽  
False Memories ◽  
Eyewitness Memory ◽  
Eyewitness Testimony ◽  
High Load ◽  
Filler Task ◽  
Load Theory ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Different Levels

High perceptual load has previously been shown to impair eyewitness memory and to enhance susceptibility to leading questions. This study investigated the effect of an episodic specificity interview (ESI) on eyewitness memory under different levels of perceptual load. 80 participants were assigned to view either a high perceptual load or low perceptual load version of a video depicting a theft in an office. After a 5 minute filler task, participants engaged in either an ESI, which employed mental imagery to elicit specific details of the video, or a control interview that solicited general impressions of the video. Under high load, participants’ ability to identify a peripheral character in the scene from a photo line-up was impaired and they were more likely to misidentify a decoy as the target character after one week. These impairments were reduced or eliminated for participants who completed the ESI. The ESI enhanced true recall for details of the scene and reduced false memories arising from leading questions. The results have theoretical implications for perceptual load theory, and practical implications for eyewitness testimony.

EXPRESS: High Bladder Pressure Reduces the Ability to Filter Out Interference From Distractors in Low Perceptual Load Condition

2021 ◽  
pp. 174702182110688
Author(s):  
Hasan Gunduz ◽  
Turan Gunduz ◽  
Arzu Ozkan Ceylan
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Perceptual Load ◽  
Control Mechanism ◽  
Load Condition ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Bladder Pressure ◽  
Distractor Interference ◽  
Load Effect ◽  
Load Theory

According to the load theory of attention, an active cognitive control mechanism is needed to ensure that behavior is controlled by target-relevant information when distractors are also perceived. Although the active cognitive control mechanism consists of working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibition components, predictions regarding the load effects of this mechanism were derived mostly from studies on working memory. We aimed to test whether these predictions are also valid for an inhibition component. The inhibitory load was manipulated physiologically by creating different bladder pressure and its effects on distractor interference were examined under low and high perceptual load conditions. Results indicated that the availability of inhibitory control resources was important for decreasing the interference of distractors in the low perceptual load condition and that the high perceptual load reduced the effects of distractors independently from the availability of inhibitory resources. Results were consistent with the predictions of load theory, and to the best of our knowledge, the study provided the first piece of evidence in terms of the load effect of inhibition component on distractor interference.

PERCEPTUAL LOAD MANIPULATION DOES NOT REVEAL SENSITIVITY ON THE N170 ERP COMPONENT OF MANIPULATED FACES AND BODIES

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Author(s):  
Tarik N. Mohamed
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Selective Attention ◽  
Perceptual Load ◽  
High Load ◽  
Normal Visual Acuity ◽  
Load Theory ◽  
Low Load ◽  
The Face ◽  
Specific Letter ◽  
Load Conditions

Background: It has been controversial in the face recognition literaturę whether face-sensitive N170 is affected by selective attention. Attention was manipulated according to Lavie’s perceptual load theory, examining the effect of selective attention on the processing of faces and human bodies. Faces and human bodies were presented either intact or manipulated. Material/Methods: 18 Students (9Males) from Sohag University, aged between 19 and 22 years (M = 19.38, SD = 0.48) contributed data in this study. All participants were right handed, and had normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity. Participants were instructed to detect specific letter strings „X or N” among different (i.e., High load), or identical (Low load) letters. Letters were superimposed on different distractors. Stimuli were presented intact (Exp.1), or manipulated (Exp.2-4), by removing certain features or parts in the face and body respectively. ERP technique was used and prominent N170 and LNC were measured. Results: It was found that there is no effect of selective attention on the face sensitive N170. It seems that cropped face N170 is not affected by selective attention. However, the N170 of faces and human bodies are not affected by selective attention. The LNC findings showed that this component is affected by selective attention with enhanced negativity under low load Conditions compared to high load conditions. Conclusions: The findings of the current study showed that either cropped faces and human bodies does not reveal sensitivity on the N170 ERP component of manipulated faces and bodies.

scholarly journals Visual Search in 3D: Effects of Monoscopic and Stereoscopic Cues to Depth on the Validity of Feature Integration Theory and Perceptual Load Theory

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ciara M. Greene ◽  
John Broughan ◽  
Anthony Hanlon ◽  
Seán Keane ◽  
Sophia Hanrahan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perceptual Load ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Feature Integration ◽  
Integration Theory ◽  
Apparent Depth ◽  
Three Dimensional Objects ◽  
Load Theory ◽  
Search Tasks ◽  
Single Feature ◽  
Feature Integration Theory

Previous research has successfully used feature integration theory to operationalise the predictions of Perceptual Load Theory, while simultaneously testing the predictions of both models. Building on this work, we test the extent to which these models hold up in a 3D world. In two experiments, participants responded to a target stimulus within an array of shapes whose apparent depth was manipulated using a combination of monoscopic and stereoscopic cues. The search task was designed to test the predictions of (a) feature integration theory, as the target was identified by a single feature or a conjunction of features and embedded in search arrays of varying size, and (b) perceptual load theory, as the task included congruent and incongruent distractors presented alongside search tasks imposing high or low perceptual load. Findings from both experiments upheld the predictions of feature integration theory, regardless of 2D/3D condition. Longer search times in conditions with a combination of monoscopic and stereoscopic depth cues suggests that binding features into three-dimensional objects requires greater attentional effort. This additional effort should have implications for perceptual load theory, yet our findings did not uphold its predictions; the effect of incongruent distractors did not differ between conjunction search trials (conceptualised as high perceptual load) and feature search trials (low perceptual load). Individual differences in susceptibility to the effects of perceptual load were evident and likely explain the absence of load effects. Overall, our findings suggest that feature integration theory may be useful for predicting attentional performance in a 3D world.

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