The Effect of Recent Experience on Template Formation during Categorical Visual Search

Previous studies have shown that while searching for categorical objects (e.g. cars, clothing, fruits, etc.), we utilize a template as a reference to aid in our detection and identification of our target object. Even more, other research has proposed the capacity of this template to accommodate or modify based on the exemplars presented for that categorical group. In addition, they have shown the capacity of these same exemplars to broaden or further specify the template used during these searches. However, these findings do not consider the effect that recent exemplars have on existing templates. In the following experiment, we trained participants by exposing them to color-specific images of a particular category that (in the real world) would generally not be biased by color (e.g. dogs have many different types and colors). Our findings indicate that recent exposure to a color-specific exemplar of a category does indeed influence the template used during a search task. Our data suggests that the participants adopt a template that is biased to the exposed color, which later returns to the original template as they are exposed to more colors.