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Within-Subject Manipulations Of Proactive Control Do Not Change Negative Templates Benefits: Exploring the Effect Of
Matthieu Chidharom1, Matt Tong1, Nancy B Carlisle1
1Department of Psychology, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18015, USA.
Visual Cognition
|July 31, 2025
Summary
This study investigated proactive control in visual search using negative templates. Motivation did not affect negative template use, suggesting it relies more on stable individual traits than temporary states.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Negative templates, derived from distractor features, enhance visual search performance.
- Proactive control mechanisms are crucial for utilizing negative templates effectively.
- Previous research highlights the role of proactive control in cognitive tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if state-based fluctuations in proactive control influence the use of negative templates.
- To investigate the impact of motivation-induced changes in proactive control on negative template efficiency.
- To differentiate between state-dependent and trait-dependent factors in negative template utilization.
Main Methods:
- Participants completed a visual search task.
- Motivation (rewards) was manipulated to induce within-individual fluctuations in proactive control.
- Reaction times (RT) were measured to assess search performance for positive and negative templates.
Main Results:
- Positive template use was enhanced under high-reward conditions, replicating prior findings.
- Motivation did not significantly affect the use of negative templates, despite influencing overall task speed.
- No evidence was found for state-based modulation of negative template efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Negative template utilization appears independent of within-individual state fluctuations in proactive control.
- The ability to use negative templates may be more closely linked to stable, trait-based individual differences in proactive control.
- These findings suggest distinct mechanisms underlying the use of positive versus negative templates in visual search.
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