Cite as:
Nucci M, Galfano G, Pastore M, 2007, "Assessing the attentional priority of cast shadows: A change-detection study" Perception 36 ECVP Abstract Supplement

Assessing the attentional priority of cast shadows: A change-detection study

M Nucci, G Galfano, M Pastore

Recent evidence has shown that, at least under some contexts, cast shadows can affect both visual-recognition and visual-search performance. In the present study, we investigated the extent to which cast shadows of simple objects receive attentional priority by using a change-detection paradigm combined with a flicker one-shot technique. Images consisted of 6 pyramids and 6 spheres with an achromatic surface colour on a uniform fixed grey background. Change (50% of trials) was represented by one of the objects casting a shadow with an inconsistent shape, a shadow with a different lighting direction, or both. Critically, two conditions were created: a real-shadow condition and a reversed-contrast-polarity condition, in which shadows were likely perceived as 2-D contrast. Change-detection performance was higher in the real-shadow condition than in the reversed-contrast-polarity condition, particularly when change involved the shape of the shadow. These findings seem to confirm that cast shadows can represent salient cues for our visual system.

[Supported by MIUR.]

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