Description
The label-feedback hypothesis (Lupyan, 2007) proposes that language can modulate low- and high-level visual processing, such as “priming” a visual object. Lupyan and Swingley (2012) found that repeating target names facilitates visual search, resulting in shorter reaction times (RTs) and higher accuracy. However, a design limitation made their results challenging to assess. This study evaluated whether self-directed speech influences target locating (i.e. attentional guidance) or target identification after location (i.e. decision time), testing whether the Label Feedback Effect reflects changes in visual attention or some other mechanism (e.g. template maintenance in working memory). Across three experiments, search RTs and eye movements were analyzed from four within-subject conditions. People spoke target names, nonwords, irrelevant (absent) object names, or irrelevant (present) object names. Speaking target names weakly facilitates visual search, but speaking different names strongly inhibits search. The most parsimonious account is that language affects target maintenance during search, rather than visual perception.
Details
Title
- Eye movements and the label feedback effect: speaking modulates visual search, but probably not visual perception
Contributors
- Hebert, Katherine P (Author)
- Goldinger, Stephen D (Thesis advisor)
- Rogalsky, Corianne (Committee member)
- McClure, Samuel M. (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Date Created
The date the item was original created (prior to any relationship with the ASU Digital Repositories.)
2016
Subjects
Resource Type
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Note
- thesisPartial requirement for: M.A., Arizona State University, 2016
- bibliographyIncludes bibliographical references (pages 27-29)
- Field of study: Psychology
Citation and reuse
Statement of Responsibility
by Katherine P. Hebert