The Information Theory of Vision: evidence from eye-movements

Recent evidence suggests that target-dissimilar items that are typically regarded as irrelevant to reaction times during visual search do, in fact, affect reaction times (Buetti et al., in revision). This evidence suggests that the effect on reaction time of target-dissimilar items (lures) increases logarithmically as the number of lures present in a display increases. In response to these findings, Buetti & Lleras (in preparation) developed a model of visual search, the Information Theory of Vision (ITV). ITV uniquely proposes that the time it takes to perform the initial stage of visual search, during which likely non-targets (lures) are separated from possible targets (candidates), will increase with the amount of information present in the display. ITV further employs Information Theory (Shannon, 1948), Signal Detection Theory (Green & Swets, 1966), and Hick’s Law (Hick, 1952) to support its predictions. In this study, we extend these predictions to eye-movements and find further support for ITV. Predictions of Guided Search (Wolfe, 1994) and Target Acqusition Model (Zelinsky, 2008) are also discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Cronin, Deborah Ann

• Visual search
• eye-movements

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2015 Deborah Cronin

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/88995

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/88995