Three experiments examined whether salient color singleton distractors automatically interfere with the detection singleton form targets in visual search (e.g., J. Theeuwes, 1992), or whether the degree of interference is top-down modulable. In Experiments 1 and 2, observers started with a pure block of trials, which contained either never a distractor or always a distractor (0% or 100% distractors)--varying the opportunity to learn distractor suppression. In the subsequent trial blocks, the proportion of distractors was systematically varied (within-subjects factor in Experiment 1, between-subjects factor in Experiment 2)--varying the incentive to use distractor suppression. In Experiment 3, observers started with 100% distractors in the first block and were presented with "rare" color or luminance distractors, in addition to "frequent" color distractors, in the second block. The results revealed distractor interference to vary as a function of both the initial experience with distractors and the incentive to suppress them: the interference was larger without relevant practice and with a lesser incentive to apply suppression (Experiments 1-3). This set of findings suggests that distractor interference is top-down modulable.

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In singleton feature search for a form-defined target, the presentation of a task-irrelevant, but salient singleton color distractor is known to interfere with target detection [Theeuwes, J. (1991). Cross-dimensional perceptual selectivity. Perception & Psychophysics, 50, 184-193; Theeuwes, J. (1992). Perceptual selectivity for color and form. Perception & Psychophysics, 51, 599-606]. The present study was designed to re-examine this effect, by presenting observers with a singleton form target (on each trial) that could be accompanied by a salient) singleton color distractor, with the proportion of distractor to no-distractor trials systematically varying across blocks of trials. In addition to RTs, eye movements were recorded in order to examine the mechanisms underlying the distractor interference effect. The results showed that singleton distractors did interfere with target detection only when they were presented on a relatively small (but not on a large) proportion of trials. Overall, the findings suggest that cross-dimensional interference is a covert attention effect, arising from the competition of the target with the distractor for attentional selection [Kumada, T., & Humphreys, G. W. (2002). Cross-dimensional interference and cross-trial inhibition. Perception & Psychophysics, 64, 493-503], with the strength of the competition being modulated by observers' (top-down) incentive to suppress the distractor dimension.

Kristjánsson, Wang, and Nakayama (2002) demonstrated that visual search for conjunctively defined targets can be substantially expedited ("primed") when target and distractor features are repeated on consecutive trials. Two experiments were conducted to examine whether the search response time (RT) facilitation on target-present trials results from repetition of target-defining features, distractor features, or both. The experiments used a multiple conjunctive search paradigm (adapted from Kristjánsson et al., 2002), in which the target and distractor features were varied (i.e., repeated) independently of each other across successive trials. The RT facilitation was numerically largest when both target and distractor features were repeated, but not significantly larger than that when only distractor features were repeated. This indicates that cross-trial priming effects in conjunctive visual search result mainly from the repetition of distractor, rather than target, features.

Phased microphone arrays have become a well-established tool for performing aeroacoustic measurements in wind tunnels (both open-jet and closed-section), flying aircraft, and engine test beds. This paper provides a review of the most wellknown and state-of-the-art acoustic imaging methods and recommendations on when to use them. Several exemplary results showing the performance of most methods in aeroacoustic applications are included. This manuscript provides a general introduction to aeroacoustic measurements for non-experienced microphone-array users as well as a broad overview for general aeroacoustic experts.