Effect of local fluency gradient of objects creates search asymmetry

Abstract

Search asymmetry is a phenomenon in which search efficiency in a visual-search task differs for searching for an X target among Y distractors from search for a Y target among X distractors. Previous research shows that search asymmetry is mainly produced by a difference in the whole signal strength of items or a difference in item familiarity. This study reports that a difference in the local fluency within items also affects search efficiency and generates search asymmetry. Fluency is a value that correlates with the processing efficiency of an item. In particular, five experiments reveal that search efficiency for two part items depends on whether a fluent part is the top or bottom portion of a target (vs. distractor). We argue that this type of search asymmetry implicates the operation of an unknown mechanism that detects local fluency gradient in visual processing.