The Influence Of Spatial-Semantic Cue On IOR

This study focuses on the stage of cue-presenting, which is an important factor, that affecting inhibition of return (IOR), and constructing spatial-semantic cue, working on location-based IOR. The definition of spatial-semantic cue is that a Chinese character describing the spatial location (such as LEFT) is presented on peripheral location of left or right visual field. The aim of this study is to examine: 1. difference between influences of spatial and semantic features of cues on IOR, competitive or conjunct? 2. how do cues affect IOR when cues are shown with the nature both of endogenous and exogenous? Two experiments were conducted) during which classic spatial-cue pattern was used with eye-movement recording, to examine the influences of cue-target SOA and cue types on IOR. Nineteen college students participated in this study. SOA includes 3 levels: 550ms, 750ms and 950ms; cue types consist of 3 conditions as well: classic peripheral cue (box brighten), a neutral Chinese characters ("去") and description of spatial locations of Chinese characters ("左", "右"). All cues are shown at fixed left or right peripheral positions, about 6 degrees of visual angle. In the first experiment all spatial locations of spatial-semantic cues are congruent to semantic in order to examine how the emergence of IOR and classic cues rouses IOR. In experiment 2, cues that are incongruent with spatial locations of spatial- semantic cues are added to examine spatial- semantic cues. Participants were asked to move their eyes to the target and make a judgment by pressing a key.The results indicate that distinct IOR is found during all conditions of SOA (550ms, 750ms and 950ms). But the IOR decreases as the SOA increases. Spatial-semantic cue shows distinct influence on IOR; the spatial feature of cue shows strong inhibition on target. Semantic feature of cue still facilitates judgment of target when SOA is long, but this facilitation can not lead to reversal of IOR. It means that IOR is a stable inhibition mechanism; exogenous cues show more distinct effect of inhibition. IOR takes place at a low-level information processing.