Learned Attention to Parts Results in Holistic Processing

Attention helps us focus on what is most relevant to our goals, and prior work shows that aspects of attention can be learned. Learned inattention to parts can abolish holistic processing of faces, but it is unknown whether learned attention to parts is sufficient to cause a change from part-based to holistic processing with objects. Here, we trained subjects to individuate non-face objects (Greebles) from two categories, Ploks and Glips. Diagnostic information was in complementary halves for the two categories. Holistic processing was then tested with Plok-Glip composites that combined the kind of part that was diagnostic or non-diagnostic during training. Exposure to Greeble parts resulted in general failures of selective attention for non-diagnostic composites, but face-like holistic processing was only observed for diagnostic composites. These results demonstrate a novel link between learned attentional control and the acquisition of holistic processing.