Abstract
Observers rewarded for finding color targets in a training task can have their attention captured by those rewarded colors in an oddball shape search, a phenomenon known as value-driven attentional capture (VDAC). In Experiments 1-4 of the current work, observers were rewarded for finding simple shapes (circle and diamond) in the training phase. In the test phase searching for an oddball color target, previously rewarded shapes slowed response times (RTs) when presented as distractors (Experiments 1 and 2) and speeded RTs when presented as targets (Experiments 3 and 4). This VDAC to shapes can overcome oddball targets with weak color contrast (red among orange) but not strong color contrast (red among green). After establishing that VDAC to shapes is possible, we asked whether color by shape conjunction targets can be trained. In Experiment 5, participants were rewarded for finding either red or circle targets in the training phase. In the test phase, they searched for oddball shape and oddball color targets. Circle and red targets both produced faster RTs than non-rewarded shape and color targets. Additionally, red circle conjunction targets (never seen in training) yielded the fastest RTs overall. In Experiment 6, participants were rewarded for finding red circle and green diamond conjunction targets during training. In the test phase, they again searched for oddball shape and oddball color targets. When targets contained a previously rewarded color or shape, RTs were again faster than non-rewarded colors and shapes. Additionally, previously trained conjunction targets yielded faster RTs, as did reverse conjunction targets (red diamonds and green circles). The additive priming of shape and color dimensions, regardless of whether they were trained separately or in conjunction, and regardless of whether they were tested in trained conjunctions or reversed conjunctions, indicates that the shape and color dimensions are independently potentiated in VDAC
Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2017