Pupil Dilation Reflects Task Relevance Prior to Search
When observers search for a specific target, it is assumed that they activate a representation of the task relevant object in visual working memory (VWM). This representation – often referred to as the template – guides attention towards matching visual input. In two experiments we tested whether th...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Ubiquity Press
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Cognition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.journalofcognition.org/articles/12 |
| _version_ | 1831810996702806016 |
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| author | Katya Olmos-Solis Anouk M. van Loon Christian N.L. Olivers |
| author_facet | Katya Olmos-Solis Anouk M. van Loon Christian N.L. Olivers |
| author_sort | Katya Olmos-Solis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | When observers search for a specific target, it is assumed that they activate a representation of the task relevant object in visual working memory (VWM). This representation – often referred to as the template – guides attention towards matching visual input. In two experiments we tested whether the pupil response can be used to differentiate stimuli that match the task-relevant template from irrelevant input. Observers memorized a target color to be searched for in a multi-color visual search display, presented after a delay period. In Experiment 1, one color appeared at the start of the trial, which was then automatically the search template. In Experiments 2, two colors were presented, and a retro-cue indicated which of these was relevant for the upcoming search task. Crucially, before the search display appeared, we briefly presented one colored probe stimulus. The probe could match either the relevant-template color, the non-cued color (irrelevant), or be a new color not presented in the trial. We measured the pupil response to the probe as a signature of task relevance. Experiment 1 showed significantly smaller pupil size in response to probes matching the search template than for irrelevant colors. Experiment 2 replicated the template matching effect and allowed us to rule out that it was solely due to repetition priming. Taken together, we show that the pupil responds selectively to participants’ target template prior to search. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T21:08:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bfe64b66710b464e92768d3799be5b0b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2514-4820 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T21:08:47Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Cognition |
| spelling | doaj.art-bfe64b66710b464e92768d3799be5b0b2022-12-21T18:12:35ZengUbiquity PressJournal of Cognition2514-48202018-01-011110.5334/joc.1211Pupil Dilation Reflects Task Relevance Prior to SearchKatya Olmos-Solis0Anouk M. van Loon1Christian N.L. Olivers2Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamDepartment of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamDepartment of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamWhen observers search for a specific target, it is assumed that they activate a representation of the task relevant object in visual working memory (VWM). This representation – often referred to as the template – guides attention towards matching visual input. In two experiments we tested whether the pupil response can be used to differentiate stimuli that match the task-relevant template from irrelevant input. Observers memorized a target color to be searched for in a multi-color visual search display, presented after a delay period. In Experiment 1, one color appeared at the start of the trial, which was then automatically the search template. In Experiments 2, two colors were presented, and a retro-cue indicated which of these was relevant for the upcoming search task. Crucially, before the search display appeared, we briefly presented one colored probe stimulus. The probe could match either the relevant-template color, the non-cued color (irrelevant), or be a new color not presented in the trial. We measured the pupil response to the probe as a signature of task relevance. Experiment 1 showed significantly smaller pupil size in response to probes matching the search template than for irrelevant colors. Experiment 2 replicated the template matching effect and allowed us to rule out that it was solely due to repetition priming. Taken together, we show that the pupil responds selectively to participants’ target template prior to search.https://www.journalofcognition.org/articles/12pupil responseattentional priorityvisual searchtemplateworking memory |
| spellingShingle | Katya Olmos-Solis Anouk M. van Loon Christian N.L. Olivers Pupil Dilation Reflects Task Relevance Prior to Search Journal of Cognition pupil response attentional priority visual search template working memory |
| title | Pupil Dilation Reflects Task Relevance Prior to Search |
| title_full | Pupil Dilation Reflects Task Relevance Prior to Search |
| title_fullStr | Pupil Dilation Reflects Task Relevance Prior to Search |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pupil Dilation Reflects Task Relevance Prior to Search |
| title_short | Pupil Dilation Reflects Task Relevance Prior to Search |
| title_sort | pupil dilation reflects task relevance prior to search |
| topic | pupil response attentional priority visual search template working memory |
| url | https://www.journalofcognition.org/articles/12 |
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