Abstract
Many activities necessitate the deployment of attention to specific distances and directions in our three-dimensional (3D) environment. However, most research examining how attention is deployed is conducted with two dimensional (2D) computer displays, leaving a large gap in our understanding of the deployment of attention in 3D space. Here we report how each of four parameters of 3D visual space influence visual search performance. These include the 3D volume of the array that search items are displayed in, the distance in depth between search items, the number of depth planes that distractors are arranged into, and the target position in depth relative to the distractors. Using a search task, we demonstrate that visual search performance depends on both 3D volume and relative target position in depth. Target selection was faster in smaller 3D search volumes, and targets were found faster when located nearer the front of the display relative to distractors. Neither the distance in depth of a target from the initial point of fixation nor the number of depth planes that items were arranged into affected search performance. These data demonstrate an asymmetrical preference for targets in the front of a display unique to 3D search, and highlight the importance of relative position in depth compared to the absolute depth of a target.
Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2014