| Popis: |
The aim of the study was to better understand interconnection of visual attention, word processing and visual field asymmetries. Three experiments investigated visual search for a prespecified letter in displays containing 6-letter words or non-words placed 7 degrees left and right to the fixation, with a variable target letter position within word and non-word strings. In Experiment 1, two letter strings of the same type (either words or non-words) were presented to both sides of the visual field. In Experiment 2, there was only one letter string presented right or left to the fixation. In Experiment 3, two letter strings presented to both sides of the visual field were of different type (one word and one non-word). RT and accuracy data were collected. The results of Experiment 1 provide evidence for serial search for a letter within a word in the left visual field (LVF) and within a non-word in the right visual field (RVF) and parallel search for a letter within a non-word in the LVF and within a word in the RVF. The results of Experiment 3 were similar except for serial search for words in RVF. In Experiment 2, where perceptual load was twice lower, the search within both types of letter strings in both hemifields was serial. These results demonstrate the influence of the perceptual load and readiness to process a certain type of letter string, on the observers' choice of search strategy. |
