Journal article
Summary Statistics of Size: Fixed Processing Capacity for Multiple Ensembles but Unlimited Processing Capacity for Single Ensembles
Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance, Vol.40(4), pp.1440-1449
08/2014
DOI: 10.1037/a0036206
PMCID: PMC7017936
PMID: 24730736
Abstract
We assessed the processing capacity of establishing statistical summary representations (SSRs) of mean size in visual displays using the simultaneous-sequential method. Four clusters of stimuli, each composed of several circles with various diameters, were presented around fixation. Observers searched for the cluster with the largest or smallest mean size. In the simultaneous condition, all four clusters were presented concurrently; in the sequential condition, the clusters appeared two at a time. We found that the processing capacity of SSRs for multiple ensembles was as extreme as a fixed-rate bottleneck process (Experiment 1). A control experiment confirmed that this was not caused by having to compare the results of multiple averaging processes (Experiment 2). In contrast to computing SSRs across ensembles, computing SSRs for a single ensemble using the same stimuli was consistent with unlimited-capacity processing (Experiment 3). Contrary to existing claims, summary representations appear to be extracted independently for items within single ensembles but not multiple ensembles. A developing understanding of capacity limitations in perceptual processing is discussed.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Summary Statistics of Size: Fixed Processing Capacity for Multiple Ensembles but Unlimited Processing Capacity for Single Ensembles
- Creators
- Mouna Attarha - Department of Psychology, University of IowaCathleen M Moore - Department of Psychology, University of IowaShaun P Vecera - Department of Psychology, University of Iowa
- Contributors
- James T Enns (Editor)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance, Vol.40(4), pp.1440-1449
- DOI
- 10.1037/a0036206
- PMID
- 24730736
- PMCID
- PMC7017936
- NLM abbreviation
- J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform
- ISSN
- 0096-1523
- eISSN
- 1939-1277
- Publisher
- American Psychological Association
- Grant note
- name: National Science Foundation, award: BCS 08-18536, BCS 11-51209
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/2014
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9984002485202771
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