ABSTRACT

Can individuals look for multiple objects at the same time? A simple question, but answering it has proven difficult. In this review, we describe possible cognitive architectures and their predictions about the capacity of visual search. We broadly distinguish three stages at which limitations may occur: (1) preparation (establishing and maintaining a mental representation of a search target), (2) selection (using this mental representation to extract candidate targets from the visual input), and (3) post-selection processing (verifying that the selected information actually is a target). We then review the empirical evidence from various paradigms, together with their strengths and pitfalls. The emerging picture is that multiple target search comes with costs, but the magnitude of this cost differs depending on the processing stage. Selection appears strongly limited, while preparation of multiple search target representations in anticipation of a search is possible with relatively small costs. Finally, there is currently not sufficient information to determine the capacity limitations of post-selection processing. We hope that our review contributes to better targeted research into the mechanisms of multiple-target search. A better understanding of multiple-target search will also contribute to better design of real-life multiple-target search problems, reducing the risk of detrimental search failures.

摘要

个人可以同时寻找多个对象吗？一个简单的问题，但很难回答。在这篇综述中，我们描述了可能的认知体系及其对视觉搜索能力的预测。我们大致区分出可能会出现限制的三个阶段：（1）准备（建立和维护搜索目标的心理表征），（2）选择（使用这种心理表征从视觉输入中提取候选目标）和（3 ）后选择处理（验证所选信息实际上是目标）。然后，我们回顾来自各种范式的经验证据，以及它们的优势和陷阱。新出现的情况是，多目标搜索会带来成本，但是这种成本的幅度因处理阶段而异。选择似乎受到很大的限制，同时可以以相对较小的成本准备多个搜索目标表示形式以进行搜索。最后，当前没有足够的信息来确定选择后处理的容量限制。我们希望我们的评论有助于对多目标搜索机制进行更好的针对性研究。对多目标搜索的更好理解也将有助于更好地设计现实生活中的多目标搜索问题，从而降低有害搜索失败的风险。我们希望我们的评论有助于对多目标搜索机制进行更好的针对性研究。对多目标搜索的更好理解也将有助于更好地设计现实生活中的多目标搜索问题，从而降低有害搜索失败的风险。我们希望我们的评论有助于对多目标搜索机制进行更好的针对性研究。对多目标搜索的更好理解也将有助于更好地设计现实生活中的多目标搜索问题，从而降低有害搜索失败的风险。