Understanding Visual Search: From Simple Display to Naturalistic Scenes

Prof. Dr. Antje Nuthmann (Kiel University)

Abstract:  Efficiently locating objects within visual scenes is crucial for everyday life. It involves eye movements to direct our attention. I will present laboratory-based research on visual search using photographs of real-world scenes. Each featured a target object that was a natural part of the scene. Participants’ task was to find the target, which was always present, and to direct their gaze to it. I will first present key findings from gaze-contingent studies assessing the need for eye movements, focusing on the perceptual span during scene search and the role of high-acuity foveal vision in acquiring the target. Next, I will present results from a larger-scale project utilizing a quasi-experimental approach to investigate different sources of guidance during scene search. Ultimately, which factors are (more) important in locating target objects: their size and visual salience, or their semantic and positional fit within the scene?

About: Antje Nuthmann is professor of Perception and Cognition at Kiel University. Her research interests include perceptual, oculomotor and cognitive control in everyday visual-cognitive tasks like scene perception, visual search, and reading. She uses experimental, corpus-analytical and computational modelling techniques.