Visual attention models-object-based theory of visual attention

According to the object-based theory, visual attention can be divided within a single object more efficiently than between separate objects. In this paper, the object-based theory of visual attention was validated through a comparison with the spatially based view, suggesting that visual attention is directed to unparsed regions of space. In testing this theory, various perceptual judgements of location were given by subjects in response to objects. Among the variables in presentation were: the direction of the objects, the distance between two locations, the number of objects involved and the display condition (joined, congruent, incongruent, etc.). In other words, the single- and two-object displays were compared by investigating the effects of these experimental factors. As a result, the object-based theory of visual attention was found to be applicable to hexagons of equal convexity, but not applicable to the other forms within the range of this experiment