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Publication
Transfer of statistical learning between tasks
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Recent studies have shown that observers can learn to suppress locations in the visual field with a high distractor probability. Here, we investigated whether this learned suppression resulting from a spatial distractor
imbalance transfers to a completely different search task that does not contain any distractors. Observers performed the additional singleton task and learned to suppress the location that was likely to contain a color
singleton distractor. Within a block, the additional singleton task would randomly switch to a T-among-L
task where observers searched in parallel (Experiment 1) or serially (Experiment 2) for a T among Ls.
The upcoming search was either unpredictable (Experiment 1/2A) or cued (Experiment 1/2B). The results
show that there was transfer of learning from one to the other task as the learned suppression stayed in place
after the switch regardless of whether the T-among-L task was performed via parallel or serial search.
Moreover, cueing that the task would switch had no effect on performance. The current findings indicate
that implicit learned biases are rather inflexible and remain in place even when the task and the required
search strategy are dramatically different and even when participants can anticipate that a change in the
search required is imminent. This transfer of the suppression to a different task is consistent with the notion
that suppression is proactively applied. Because the location is already suppressed proactively, that is, before
display onset, regardless which display and task is presented, the suppressed location competes less for
attention than all other locations.
Description
Keywords
Spatial priority map Statistical learning Task switch Visual attention
Citation
van Moorselaar, D., & Theeuwes, J. (2024). Transfer of statistical learning between tasks. Journal of Experimental Psychology. Human Perception & Performance, 59(7), 740–751. https://doi.org/10.1037/xhp0001216
Publisher
American Psychological Association