Day 8 of 150 Pattern Difficulty 7/10
Single features pop out in parallel; conjunctions need focal attention
Quick answer
Single features pop out in parallel; conjunctions need focal attention. Today's question (Feature integration theory) asks about a finding from Treisman, A. M., & Gelade, G. in 1980. The correct option is Single features are detected in parallel; conjunctions require focal attention — full explanation, primary source, and glossary cross-links below.
Today's question
According to Treisman & Gelade's feature integration theory, conjunction searches (e.g., a red X among red Os and blue Xs) are slow because:
Reveal the answer and explanation
Correct: B — Single features are detected in parallel; conjunctions require focal attention
Treisman & Gelade (1980) showed that pop-out searches (find the red item among blue items) are independent of set size — features are detected across the visual field in parallel feature maps. Conjunction searches (find the red X among red Os AND blue Xs) scale linearly with set size, indicating serial focal attention is needed to "glue" features together. Search slope, not absolute speed, is the diagnostic.
About the source
Treisman, A. M., & Gelade, G. (1980). A feature-integration theory of attention. Cognitive Psychology, 12(1), 97–136.
Every Cognition Bible question cites a primary source — a paper, book chapter, or monograph that exists, that we can point to on Google Scholar, and whose finding the question accurately summarizes. No fabricated authority strings, no name-drops without paper-level grounding.
More from the Cognition Bible
Done with today's question? Play the FOKIQ Daily — six puzzles across six cognitive domains, free, every day.