Spatial Context Target Relearning in Memory Guided Visual Search

Abstract

The following dissertation presents two studies that explored the effects of unexpected target relocation events on spatial context target relearning during memory-guided visual search. In previous studies, learning and relearning were defined by the presence of a response time benefit for repeated search displays. In most cases, these studies failed to see relearning following an unexpected target relocation event, with only targets near the original location showing a benefit. These two studies showed that relearning does occur for new experimental conditions as well as experimental conditions where relearning was not observed. Furthermore, they showed that relearning is possible after single and multiple relocation events, and is not functionally limited by the distance of the target relocation from the initial location.