Fluorescent Colored Stimuli Automatically Attract Visual Attention: An Eye Movement Study

Abstract

Fluorescent colored materials possess qualities that can lead to enhanced visibility and safety. However, little is known about the mechanisms that mediate this enhanced visual conspicuity. Previous studies using visual search paradigms suggest that the enhanced conspicuity of fluorescent colors stems from top-down attentional mechanisms; and, offer no support for the claim that fluorescent colored stimuli can automatically attract visual attention in a strictly bottom-up fashion. As an alternative to visual search techniques, the present study investigated eye movement behavior to ascertain whether an unexpected presentation of a fluorescent colored stimulus would be likely to capture initial visual fixations to the onset of a multi-stimulus array. Results of the study indicate that, compared to non-fluorescent colored stimuli, the fluorescent colored target was much more likely to elicit initial fixations. Contrary to previous studies, these findings support the claim that fluorescent colors can automatically attract visual attention via bottom-up mechanisms.