The role of surface feature continuity in object-based inhibition of return

Abstract

The contribution of surface feature continuity to object-based inhibition of return (IOR) was tested in three experiments. Participants executed a saccade to a previously fixated or unfixated colored disk after the object had moved to a new location. Object-based IOR was observed as lengthened saccade latency to a previously fixated object. The consistency of surface feature (color) and spatiotemporal information was manipulated to examine the feature used to define the persisting objects to which inhibition is assigned. If the two objects traded colors during motion, object-based IOR was reliably reduced (Experiment 2), suggesting a role for surface feature properties in defining the objects of object-based IOR. However, if the two objects changed to new colors during motion, object-based IOR was preserved (Experiment 1), and color consistency was not sufficient to support object continuity across a salient spatiotemporal discontinuity (Experiment 3). These results suggest that surface feature consistency plays a significant role in defining object persistence for the purpose of IOR, although surface features may be weighted less strongly than spatiotemporal features in this domain.

Saccade latency reveals episodic representation of object color

“…The lack of an effect of color change, while consistent with previous studies using the reviewing paradigm, is inconsistent with Tas et al’s (2012) finding that color change reduces IOR – a finding that the authors attributed to a disruption of perceptual continuity in the color change condition. There are several important differences between the experiments, however, that may contribute to the divergent results.…”

“…While robust across the object file literature – particularly in studies using the classic reviewing paradigm – the results suggesting a limited representation or use of color information is at odds with a number of studies demonstrating episodic representations of color (e.g., Johnson, Hollingworth, & Luck, 2008; Tas, Dodd, & Hollingworth, 2012) and their use in the operations that preserve object continuity (e.g., Richard et al, 2008). These conflicting results may reflect the fact that studies using the reviewing paradigm (that have suggested a critical role for identity, but not color) have most often used as the primary task identification of the target object.…”

“…Tas, Dodd, and Hollingworth (2012) have recently presented evidence that changing object color can reduce IOR. Participants in their study saw an initial display consisting of two colored discs, and were cued to fixate one of the discs before a second cue drew their fixation back to the center of the screen.…”

“…On the basis of these data, Tas et al (2012) argued that surface features such as color play an important role in establishing object continuity. It is worth noting, however, that color was an especially important object feature in the Tas et al study.…”

“…Early evidence suggested that this correspondence is made primarily, or exclusively, on the basis of spatiotemporal display properties (e.g., Kahneman, Treisman, & Gibbs, 1992; Mitroff & Alvarez, 2007). More recent evidence, however, suggests that other object properties, such as color, may be used to establish correspondence as well (e.g., Richard et al, 2008; Tas, Dodd, & Hollingworth, 2012). Once the correspondence has been established, a reviewing process is engaged, in which object files are retrieved from memory and a comparison is made between the currently visible objects and their object file representations.…”