Asymmetric learning of dynamic spatial regularities in visual search: Robust facilitation of predictable target locations, fragile suppression of distractor locations.

Static statistical regularities in the placement of targets and salient distractors within the search display can be learned and used to optimize attentional guidance. Whether statistical learning also extends to dynamic regularities governing the placement of targets and distractors on successive trials remains controversial. Here, we applied the same dynamic cross-trial regularity-one-step shift of the critical item in clockwise/counterclockwise direction-to either the target or a distractor. In two experiments, we found and replicated robust learning of the predicted target location: processing of the target at this location was facilitated, compared to random target placement. But we found little evidence of proactive suppression of the predictable distractor location-even in a close replication of Wang et al. (2021), who had reported a dynamic distractor suppression effect. Facilitation of the predictable target location was associated with explicit awareness of the dynamic regularity, whereas participants showed no awareness of the distractor regularity. We propose that this asymmetry arises because, owing to the target's central role in the task set, its location is explicitly encoded in working memory, enabling the learning of dynamic regularities. In contrast, the distractor is not explicitly encoded; so, statistical learning of dynamic distractor locations is more precarious. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).