C-03 Distribution of visual attention on partially occluded objects : Evidence from spatial cuing task

Abstract

To examine the characteristics of representation on which visual attention operates, we observed the cuing effects on a visual search of a target letter presented on partially occluded two-dimensional objects. Four rectangles were arranged in a woven tick-tack-toe grid. A cue was flashed at one end of a rectangle. Subjects judged the identity of the target letter presented on a rectangle. Reaction time was delayed when another object bisected the cued and the target location than when there was no occlusion between them. This indicated that visual attention does not operate solely on spatial or independent object-centered representation, but on a more elaborated one that is affected by occlusion.