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Time pressure and reward value's influence on visual search performance and behavior: an eye-tracking VR study
Mohamad El Iskandarani1, Sara Lu Riggs2
1Systems and Information Engineering Department, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 22904, VA, USA.
Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications
|May 22, 2026
Summary
Time pressure impairs visual search accuracy, but reward value can counteract this effect, enabling faster and more accurate target identification. This suggests motivational factors can mitigate stress impacts on search performance.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Visual search is influenced by both stress (time pressure) and motivation (reward value).
- Individual effects of time pressure and reward on search are known, but their combined impact and interaction are unclear.
- Distinct effects on target acquisition and verification components of visual search are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how time pressure and reward value jointly affect visual search performance and behavior.
- To determine if reward value can mitigate the negative performance impacts of time pressure.
- To examine differential effects of time pressure and reward on target acquisition versus verification.
Main Methods:
- An eye-tracking study involving 40 participants.
- Participants performed visual search tasks in a virtual environment.
- Manipulated conditions included varying levels of time pressure and reward value.
Main Results:
- Time pressure decreased overall accuracy, increasing target acquisition time but decreasing verification time.
- Reward value enhanced target acquisition efficiency and accuracy.
- Reward value mitigated performance decrements under time pressure, improving accuracy and reducing search time.
Conclusions:
- Time pressure and reward value have distinct effects on target acquisition and verification processes.
- Reward value can counteract the detrimental effects of time pressure on visual search performance.
- The interaction between motivational and stress factors is crucial for understanding search behavior.
