The capacity limitations of multiple-template visual search during task preparation and target selection.

ABSTRACT: Visual search is guided by mental representations of target-defining features (attentional templates) that are activated in a preparatory fashion. It remains unknown how many templates can be maintained concurrently, and what kind of costs are associated with multiple-template versus single-template search. Here, we compared the operation of attentional templates during three-color and single-color search tasks. Preparatory template activation processes were tracked by measuring N2pc components to task-irrelevant singleton color probes that appeared in rapid succession during the interval between search displays. These probes attract attention (as indexed by an N2pc) if the corresponding color template is active at the time when the probe appears. In a three-color search task where target

SUBMITTER: Grubert A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11775862 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature