Attentional persistence for features of hierarchical patterns.

Priming for perceptual wholes and parts was examined in 4 experiments involving patterns arranged in a spatial hierarchy (D. Navon, see record 1978-11488-001). Previous studies have demonstrated "level-specific priming" across successive trials for these patterns (L. C. Robertson et al, see record 80:40200; L. M. Ward, see record 69:02582), and studies in neuropsychology have shown an absence of this priming effect in patient groups with parietal damage (R. Rafal & L. M. Robertson, 1995). The present experiments demonstrate that level-specific priming is linked to the spatial frequency differences between global and local forms in hierarchical patterns. They also show that level-specific priming is present even when the stimulus as a whole changes location. The effects last for up to 3 sec without diminution and are not affected by changes in color, polarity, or contrast. These findings are discussed as they relate to spatial attention, object perception, and memory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)