Attentional templates for target features versus locations.

Visual search is guided by visual working memory representations (i.e., attentional templates) that are activated prior to search and contain target-defining features (e.

Target switch costs in visual search arise during the preparatory activation of target templates.

Prior research on task switching has shown that the reconfiguration of stimulus-response mappings across trials is associated with behavioral switch costs. Here, we investigated the effects of switching representations of target-defining features in visual search (attentional templates). Participants searched for one of two color-defined target objects that changed predictably every two trials (Experiment 1) or every four trials (Experiment 2).

Connecting Chemical Worlds - Context-based Learning Co-developed.

Chemistry as well as chemistry education often raise two different perceptions among non-experts: Chemistry (education) provides spectacular phenomena, experiments and entertainment, but is also perceived as incorporating high levels of risk and many different facts and rules. Students and teachers get more authentic insights and perceptions of the broad spectrum of science tasks, activities and people when working together, whereas scientists can better understand teachers´ and students´ perspectives with regard to content interests and learning processes at school and beyond.

Do We Prepare for What We Predict? How Target Expectations Affect Preparatory Attentional Templates and Target Selection in Visual Search.

Visual search is guided by representations of target-defining features (attentional templates) that are activated in a preparatory fashion. Here, we investigated whether these template activation processes are modulated by probabilistic expectations about upcoming search targets. We tracked template activation while observers prepared to search for one or two possible color-defined targets by measuring N2pc components (markers of attentional capture) to task-irrelevant color probes flashed every 200 msec during the interval between search displays.