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Inhibitory tagging in visual search: a failure to replicate.

J M Wolfe¹, C W Pokorny

¹Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139.

Perception & Psychophysics

|October 1, 1990

Summary

Replication failed for inhibitory tagging in visual search. Probe reaction times increased at distractor locations due to forward masking, not inhibitory tagging of rejected distractors.

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Area of Science:

Cognitive psychology
Visual perception
Attention

Background:

Inhibitory tagging of rejected distractors is a proposed mechanism in visual search.
Klein (1988) suggested probe reaction times indicate this inhibitory tagging.

Purpose of the Study:

To replicate Klein's (1988) findings on inhibitory tagging.
To investigate the cause of elevated probe reaction times in visual search tasks.

Main Methods:

Participants performed serial and parallel visual search tasks.
Probe detection reaction times were measured at distractor and empty locations.

Main Results:

Probe reaction times were elevated at all distractor locations compared to empty locations.
This effect was observed after both parallel and serial search tasks.
The results suggest a forward masking effect, not inhibitory tagging.

Conclusions:

Klein's (1988) findings could not be replicated.
Elevated probe reaction times in this context are likely due to forward masking.
The proposed inhibitory tagging mechanism may not be accurately reflected by this probe paradigm.

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