Numerical distance effects in visual search

数字信息如何影响人类在基本知觉和认知任务中的信息处理？为了回答这个普遍的问题，我们进行了几次眼动和反应时间实验；这些研究已在相关国际期刊（JEP:LMC, AP&P）上发表了两篇论文。我们制定并适用于广泛的新数据集，一个简洁的时间计量模型，该模型以相当多的定量细节描述和解释了与数值比较过程相关的许多已建立的和几个新的方面（Reike & Schwarz, 2016）。我们还描述了一种新的眼动效应（跳跳超调效应）：随着呈现的两个数字的距离减小，跳跳反应的幅度增加；我们提出的模型很好地解释了这种效应。先前的研究结果对数字相关任务中反应行为的运动方面以及这些方面对数字距离的依赖性提出了相当复杂的看法。在两个计划中的实验中，我们打算详细研究跳跃式超调效应的有效性和局限性。具体来说，我们计划操作显示的数字的数量（1 vs. 2）以及它们在显示中的空间位置（水平对齐vs.垂直对齐）。数字比较研究通常侧重于与之前试验中发生的事件无关的刺激（即数字）的特性。此外，许多这些研究使用具有属性的刺激（例如，数值大小与物理大小），这可能会引起表征或反应冲突。使用几个很好理解的冲突范式（Snarc, Simon），我们开发了一个新的设计，在这个设计中，我们展示了操纵重复（反应-）不相关刺激属性的局部试验对试验概率的系统效应，对比了不相关属性交替与重复的试验（Schwarz & Reike, 2016）。这些影响是特定于冲突范式的，因此局限于冲突范式，还是更普遍？在两个新的实验中，我们打算使用相关和不相关的刺激属性不太可能引起表征或反应冲突的范式来解决这个问题。为此，我们的参与者将根据数字的物理大小或（在不同条件下）颜色来判断数字。此外，为了尽量减少潜在的反应冲突，我们计划不仅收集手动选择反应，还收集声音选择反应。在我们项目的第一阶段，我们开发了控制我们计划实验的各个方面所需的软件，包括眼球运动的注册和预处理。类似地，几乎所有需要聚合和分析我们计划收集的数据的程序都很容易使用。

How does numerical information influence human information processing in elementary perceptual and cognitive tasks? To address this general question, we carried out several eye movement and reaction time experiments; these studies have led to two publications in relevant international journals (JEP:LMC, AP&P).We formulated, and fitted to extensive new data sets, a parsimonious chronometric model which describes and explains in considerable quantitative detail many well-established and several new aspects related to numerical comparison processes (Reike & Schwarz, 2016). We also described a new oculomotor effect (the saccadic overshoot effect): the amplitude of the response saccade increases as the numerical distance of the two digits presented decreases; this effect is well accounted for by the model that we proposed. Previous findings present a rather mixed picture regarding motor aspects of the response behavior in number-related tasks, and the dependency of these aspects on numerical distance. In two planned experiments we intend to investigate in detail the validity and limits of the saccadic overshoot effect. Specifically, we plan to manipulate the number of the digits presented (one vs. two) and also their spatial position within the display (horizontally vs. vertically aligned). Number comparison studies typically focus on properties of the stimuli (i.e., digits) which are unrelated to the events which have taken place in the preceding trial. Also, many of these studies employ stimuli with attributes (e.g., numerical vs. physical size) which potentially induce a representational or response conflict. Using several well-understood conflict paradigms (Snarc, Simon), we have developed a new design within which we demonstrated the systematic effect of manipulating the local trial-to-trial probability of repeating the (response-)irrelevant stimulus attribute, contrasting trials in which the irrelevant attribute is alternated vs. repeated (Schwarz & Reike, 2016). Are these effects specific for, and thus limit to, conflict paradigms, or do they hold more generally? In two new experiments, we intend to address this question, using paradigms in which the relevant and the irrelevant stimulus attribute are unlikely to induce representational or response conflicts. To this end, our participants will judge digits with respect to their physical size, or (in different conditions) their color. In addition, to minimize potential response conflicts we plan to collect not only manual but also vocal choice responses. During the first phase of our project we have developed the software needed to control all aspects of our planned experiments, including the registration and preprocessing of eye movements. Similarly, nearly all programs needed to aggregate and to analyze the data we plan to collect are readily utilizable.