Target activation and distractor inhibition on attentional bias in priming of popout search

Selection history effects occur when visual search is facilitated after previous target features are repeated during subsequent searches relative to when target features switch with non-target distractor features. Selection history on visual search is likely due to a combination of feature activation (increased salience), bias in attentional decisions over target selection, and facilitated post-selection retrieval, and likely reflects both target activation and distractor suppression. The present study used a probe detection task within a standard priming of popout (PoP) visual search task to examine how target activation and distractor suppression influence attentional decisions to select a previous target's features. PoP was observed in response times and importantly in recall of probes appearing on both color singleton targets and non-singleton distractors. Relative to baseline conditions, more probes were recalled from color singleton targets on color repeat trials, and fewer probes were recalled from targets on color switch trials; and more probes were recalled form the non-targets on switch trials than baseline trials. The results suggest that target activation and distractor suppression contribute to the attentional decision bias that arises due to selection history.