1. Feature Integration Theory
Psychology 355: Cognitive Psychology Instructor: John Miyamoto 04/12/2018: Lecture 03-4
Note: This Powerpoint presentation may contain macros that I wrote to help me create the slides. The macros aren’t needed to view the slides. You can disable or delete the macros without any change to the presentation.

2. Outline Treisman’s Feature Integration Theory
Role of Attention in Binding Features to Objects
Automatic and Controlled Processes
Briefly discuss Midterm 1 (Monday April 16)
If necessary, I will omit this from the lecture; it will still be on the exam
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr ‘18
Object-Based Attention Contrasted with Feature Integration Theory (of Objects)

3. Attention and the Perception of Objects
Object-Based Attention: Attention is structured around representations of objects.
Feature Integration Attention helps in the creation of the Theory: representations of objects
Features are integrated into mental representations of objects.
E.g., I look at a jacket. It has many features: + Blue color + Shape features + Shiny (zipper) + etc. I have to combine these features into the percept of this particular jacket.
Psych 355,, Miyamoto, Spr '18
Feature Integration Theory

4. Feature Integration Theory (FIT): Figure 4.30
Feature binding occurs here
Anne Treisman hypothesized that attention plays a critical role in combining features into objects (binding features to objects).
Preattentive Stage
Automatic; effortless; unaware of process; object's features are detected by the visual system.
Focused Attention Stage
Attention plays key role; features are associated with (bound to) objects
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
Same as This Slide But Without the Emphasis Red Rectangles

5. Feature Integration Theory (FIT): Figure 4.30
Feature binding occurs here
Anne Treisman hypothesized that attention plays a critical role in combining features into objects (binding features to objects).
Preattentive Stage
Automatic; effortless; unaware of process; object's features are detected by the visual system.
Focused Attention Stage
Attention plays key role; features are associated with (bound to) objects
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
Describe Task in Schmidt & Treisman Experiment

6. Treisman & Schmidt Experiment
Next you will see 2 numbers and 4 objects. The numbers are next to the objects.
YOUR TASK
Make sure that you notice and remember the numbers.
Then try to remember as much as you can about the objects.
When the display is gone, write down the numbers, and describe the objects as best you can. 5 1
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
“Prepare to Respond” Slide

7. Prepare for the First Trial (a Slow Trial)
The stimulus will appear about here.
The trial will start when I say “go”.
When I say “go” (click), a display will appear and then disappear.
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
Actual Trial Begins on Click – The First Trial is Slow

8. Example of Treisman Display8 5
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18

9. Pattern Mask
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18

10. Actual Display: Dependent Variables
What were the numbers in the display? Write them down.
What did the objects in the middle look like? Write down some notes about them.
Actual Display:
The next display is presented much faster so be ready.
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
“Prepare to Respond” Slide

11. Prepare for the Second Trial (a faster trial)
The stimulus will appear about here.
The trial will start when I say “go”.
When I say “go” (click), a display will appear and then disappear.
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
Similar Trial But Display Duration is Much Shorter

12. Treisman Display
This display is different from the display in lec03-3.p355.spr14.pptm.
See e:\p355\rcode\illusory.conjunction.display.docm for R-code to make this kind of display.
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18

13. Pattern Mask
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18

14. Dependent Variables
What were the numbers in the display? Write them down.
What did the objects in the middle look like? Write down some notes about them.
Actual Display:
Did any of you see the correct features but have them associated with the wrong object?
This illustrates feature migration and illusory conjunctions (of features).
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
Illusory Conjunctions & Feature Integration Theory

15. Illusory Conjunctions and the Binding Problem
Features occasionally "migrate" from one object to another. Illusory conjunctions – people see the right features but attach them to the wrong objects.
Feature Integration Theory (FIT – due to Anne Treisman):
There is a stage in perceptual processing where features are represented independently from "binding" to objects. Features can still float from one object to another. (Preattentive Stage)
It takes attention to bind features together into objects. (Focused Attention Stage)
Why do we present numbers to the side of the objects in the middle? Why make the primary task the recall of these numbers?
Answer: We want to draw attention away from the middle to increase the likelihood of feature migration. Havind subjects focus on the numbers weakens the amount of attention devoted to the objects in the middle.
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
Conclusions re Feature-Integration Theory

16. Conclusion re Feature Integration Theory (FIT)
Main Hypothesis: Focused attention helps bind features to objects.
Comment: Much easier to create illusory conjunctions with abstract objects like ◘ or ▲ than with familiar objects like or
Comment: Why did I ask subjects to identify the numbers on either side of the display?
Example of Balint's syndrome:
Patient with Balint's syndrome has difficulty focusing on individual objects.
Patient with Balint's syndrome is especially prone to seeing illusory conjunctions. 5 1
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
Automatic and Controlled Processes

17. Automatic versus Controlled Processes
Automatic processes are processes that occur without conscious control.
Controlled processes are processes that require conscious attention in order to carry them out.
Examples:
Learning to touch type at a keyboard. Initially requires controlled processing, then become automatized with lots of practice.
Stroop effect – reading word meaning is an automatic process.
book
rock
bird
hair
knot
blue
green
red
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
Is Driving a Car an Automatic or Controlled Process?

18. Example: Is Driving a Car an Automatic or Controlled Process
Example: Is Driving a Car an Automatic or Controlled Process? Assume that the driver is an experienced driver but not a professional driver, i.e., not a taxi driver or race car driver, but also not a novice.
The cognitive processes of an experienced driver are a mixture of automatic and controlled processes.
Driving is almost a purely automatic process when the driving is extremely simple, e.g., driving down a straight level highway with no other cars.
If the driving is complicated and involves challenging decisions, then the driving requires a good deal of controlled processing as well as automatic processing.
With practice, the mental processes in driving become increasingly automated.
Dividing Attention Between Automatic Processes or Between Controlled Processes
Psych 355,, Miyamoto, Spr '18

19. It is easier to share attention between automatic processes than between controlled processes.
"Automaticization": The transformation of controlled processes to automatic processes through practice.
Example: Mr. X is driving in complex traffic while having a conversation with a passenger in his car.
Easier Task
Mr. X is a very experienced driver, e.g., a taxi cab driver.
Mr. X is speaking in his native language. The topic of conversation is not complicated.
Harder Task
Mr. X is a relatively inexperienced driver.
Mr. X is speaking a non-native language (for him). The topic of conversation is complicated, e.g., solving a math problem.
Psych 355,, Miyamoto, Spr '18
Examples of Activities that Involve Divided Attention

20. Examples of Activities that Involve Divided Attention
Doing several different tasks concurrently.
Lecturing on statistics while writing at the blackboard
Driving while talking on the cell phone.
Doing housework while listening to talk radio.
Thinking about your social life while doing a job.
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '14
Characteristics of Automatic and Controlled Processes

21. Characteristics of Automatic and Controlled Processes
Characteristics of Automatic Processes:
Examples: reading, comprehending spoken language, identifying a friend
... can be initiated without intention;
... operate very rapidly;
... operate without conscious control of the process
Characteristics of Controlled Processes:
Examples: Writing a letter, solving a problem (usually), making a big decision
... usually initiated intentionally;
... often occurs slowly;
... require conscious control (usually);
... require attention to execute the components of the action or thought process;
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
Schneider & Shiffrin – Some tasks cannot be automated

22. Some Tasks Can Be Automated; Others Cannot
Schneider & Shiffrin (1977): Search for a target letters in displays that contain distractors (non-targets).
Consistent mapping condition: Letters that are used as targets are never used as distractors.
Varied mapping condition: Letters that are used as targets are also used as distractors on other trials.
Psych 355 students:
I won't ask you for the details of the Schneider & Shiffrin (1977) study.
I might ask: Is it always possible to automate any series of mental operations if one practices enough? Answer: No, Schneider & Shiffrin (1977) showed that this is not always possible.
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
Schneider & Shiffrin - Findings

23. Some Tasks Can Be Automated; Others Cannot (cont.)
Consistent Mapping Condition: After many thousands of trials (thorough training), accuracy was just as good when searching 4 positions as when searching 1 or 2 positions.
Varied Mapping Condition: After many thousands of trials (thorough training), accuracy still got worse and worse as the number of positions to search increased from 1 to 2 to 4.
Interpretation: The search became automatic in the consistent mapping condition, but could not be automatized in the varied mapping condition.
Psych 355 students:
I won't ask you for the details of the Schneider & Shiffrin (1977) study.
I might ask: Is it always possible to automate any series of mental operations if one practices enough? Answer: No, Schneider & Shiffrin (1977) showed that this is not always possible.
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
Summary re Automatic & Controlled Processes

24. Summary re Automatic and Controlled Processes
Divided attention (task sharing) becomes easier and performance improves as tasks become automatized.
Obviously practice promotes automatization.
Some tasks cannot be automatized.
The automatic/controlled distinction has many important applications
Effects of practice on skill learning
Automatic social responses, e.g., prejudiced responses (racial/gender/ethnic) that are masked by more acceptable responses.
Automatic inferences in decision making are sometimes very helpful and are sometimes very misleading. Depends on the situation.
Psych 355 students: These two points are the only things that I want you to know about the Schneider & Shiffrin (1977) study.
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
Info re Midterm 1 - END

25. Midterm Exam: Monday April 16
Format: Multiple choice, true/false, short answer
Time allowed: whole class period (50 minutes)
** Bring a scantron form and #2 pencil to the exam **
What will be on the test?
Textbook, chapters 1-4, lectures, sections, CogLab assignments
The main Psych 355 webpage has a link to a document that is titled "What will be covered on Midterm 1?".
The url for this document is but it is probably easier to find the link on the Psych 355 webpage.
* Note to self: Load 'mid1.topics.htm' into Firefox.
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
Continue This Slide - END

26. Study materials on the Psych 355 website
Download pdf's of the study guides for Chapters 1 – 4 from the Psych 355 website.
See Midterm 1 from Spring First, study the version without an answer key. Later, use the answer key to check your thinking.
See quizzes 1 and 2 from Spring 2016.
The document "What will be covered on Midterm 1?" (see link on preceding slide) contains suggestions regarding the most effective way to study for this exam.
* Point out location of the study guides on the Psych 355 website.
Psych 355, Miyamoto, Spr '18
END