Beyond the Gaze: The Influence of Certainty on Parafoveal Processing of Objects in Scenes
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Authors
Lum Smith, Hannah
Date
2024-09-11
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Parafoveal Information Integration , Scene Context , Object Recognition , Spatial Certainty
Alternative Title
Abstract
We constantly predict the identity of objects to navigate the abundance of visual stimuli in our environment. However, objects vary in how predictable they are within a larger context. Spatial Certainty refers to the degree to which an object is expected to appear in a specific region within a scene (Krzyś et al., 2023). Objects high in Spatial Certainty are found in a single region (e.g., a chandelier in the upper region), while objects low in Certainty can appear more variably across the scene. While Spatial Certainty has been shown to guide attention, its effects on object processing are less understood. The current study investigated how scene context influenced the integration of object information between the parafovea and fovea, and examined how Spatial Certainty impacted this integration. Experiment 1 examined spatial associations on recognition using an online study. Objects were briefly presented in Expected or Unexpected Placements within a scene, followed by a two-alternative forced-choice task (2AFC) between objects varying in Spatial Certainty. Results suggested that object recognition was enhanced by utilizing the object’s unique spatial association within the scene. However, it remained unclear if these associations pre-processed the object’s identity as the 2AFC choices appeared post-scene viewing. Experiment 2 investigated whether spatial associations influenced information processing between parafoveal and foveated information. Using a gaze-contingent and modified-boundary paradigm, participants fixated on a dot-probe, and a critical object briefly appeared 4° away. Participants identified the object while their eye movements were recorded. Results showed significant effects of Placement, Spatial Certainty, and their interaction on Accuracy, aligning with Experiment 1. However, no such interactive effects were found in eye movement measures. We conclude that the variability in the strength of the object-scene association modulated object processing in nuanced ways, with differing effects on eye movement and behavioural measures.
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.