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Temporal processes of information transmission from visual search to behavior
Joseph S Lappin1,2, Herbert H Bell3,4
1Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Journal of Vision
|March 17, 2026
Summary
This study reveals how response times (RTs) in visual search reflect information transmission rates. Faster and slower participants process visual information differently, impacting search efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Visual Perception
- Information Theory
Background:
- Visual search tasks are fundamental to understanding human perception and attention.
- Response times (RTs) offer insights into the temporal dynamics of cognitive processes.
- Previous research often focused on set size effects, overlooking within-condition RT variance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temporal dynamics of information transmission during visual search.
- To analyze the variance in response times (RTs) beyond set size effects.
- To quantify information processing rates in different visual search tasks.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of hazard rate functions derived from response time (RT) data.
- Measurement of momentary information rates using sequential response probabilities and continuous visual influence.
- Calculation of information rates in bits per second (bits/s).
Main Results:
- Information transmission rates varied systematically with RTs across different search conditions.
- Feature and conjunction search tasks exhibited nonlinear information rate functions with accelerating and decelerating phases.
- Spatial configuration tasks showed roughly constant information rates in limited conditions.
- Observer speed correlated with distinct processing of visual organizations in target-absent displays.
Conclusions:
- Information processing rates are dynamic and task-dependent during visual search.
- Perceptual organization and response control operate as synchronized parallel processes.
- Individual differences in search speed reflect qualitative differences in visual information processing.
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