We examined whether typical frequency effects observed in normal reading would also occur in a target search task using non-linguistic Landolt-C stimuli. In an initial learning session, we simulated development of frequency effects by controlling exposures participants received of Landolt-C clusters during learning. In a subsequent scanning session, we manipulated the cluster demarcation form of linear strings of Landolt-C clusters (i.e., spaced vs. unspaced vs. shaded unspaced). Participants were required to scan and search for pre-learnt target clusters that were embedded in longer Landolt-C strings. During learning, frequency effects were successfully simulated such that targets with more exposures received shorter fixation time than those with fewer exposures. Participants were unable to successfully detect the pre-learnt targets when they were embedded in the strings during scanning. No evidence of frequency effects was observed in the scanning session. In contrast, eye-movement control was significantly influenced by cluster demarcation form, with increased difficulty for unspaced strings, less for shaded strings, and least for spaced strings. Furthermore, typical landing position distributions that occur in reading of spaced languages also occurred during scanning of spaced Landolt-C strings but not for the shaded or the unspaced strings. In conclusion, exposure frequency effects were successfully simulated during learning but did not carry over to target search during scanning of Landolt-C strings. Possible reasons why frequency effects did not occur in the scanning session are discussed.

我们检查了使用非语言Landolt-C刺激在目标搜索任务中是否也会在正常阅读中观察到典型的频率影响。在最初的学习课程中，我们通过控制学习过程中接受Landolt-C群集的参与者的暴露来模拟频率效应的发展。在随后的扫描会话中，我们处理了Landolt-C群集的线性字符串的群集划分形式（即，间隔与无间隔与阴影与无间隔）。要求参与者扫描和搜索嵌入在较长Landolt-C字符串中的学习前目标集群。在学习过程中，成功地模拟了频率效应，使得与暴露较少的目标相比，暴露较多的目标的固定时间更短。当参与者在扫描过程中嵌入到字符串中时，他们无法成功检测到学习前目标。在扫描过程中未观察到频率影响的证据。相反，眼球运动控制受群集划分形式的显着影响，对于无间隔的字符串，难度增加，带阴影的字符串，难度最小。此外，在扫描间隔的Landolt-C字符串期间，也发生了在间隔语言的阅读中出现的典型着陆位置分布，但对于阴影或未间隔的字符串则没有发生。总之，在学习过程中成功地模拟了暴露频率的影响，但是在Landolt-C弦的扫描过程中并没有延续到目标搜索中。讨论了在扫描会话中未发生频率影响的可能原因。