Further Studies of the Attentional Response of Humans and Squirrel Monkeys to Visual Patterns

Abstract

2 experiments were performed to (a) examine the importance of pattern elevation, curvature, hue, and dissimilarity of hue to human viewing time and (b) determine whether those properties found to affect human behavior similarly affect the attentional behavior of the squirrel monkey. 60 human Ss served in Exp. I and 10 monkeys in Exp. II. In Exp. I patterns containing elevated components were viewed longer than patterns containing 2-dimensional components (P < .05), and patterns containing components of dissimilar hue were viewed longer than those with components of similar hue (P < .05). In Exp. II a measure of attention based on performance in a discrimination-learning situation was employed. When the data were analyzed in terms of approach to the positive pattern, patterns containing elevated and curved components were found to have greater attentional value than patterns with 2-dimensional or angular components (Ps < .025 and .05, respectively); however, when the data were analyzed in terms of avoidance of the negative pattern no significant differences were found. On the basis of both these findings and those of earlier studies it was concluded that, for both humans and squirrel monkeys, informational parameters tend to show greater intradimensional differences in attentional control than noninformational parameters.