Feature precedence in processing multifeature visual information in the human brain: an event-related potential study

In this article, we aimed to study whether feature precedence existed in the cognitive processing of multifeature visual information in the human brain. In our experiment, we paid attention to two important visual features as follows: color and shape. In order to avoid the presence of semantic constraints between them and the resulting impact, pure color and simple geometric shape were chosen as the color feature and shape feature of visual stimulus, respectively. We adopted an “old/new” paradigm to study the cognitive processing of color feature, shape feature and the combination of color feature and shape feature, respectively. The experiment consisted of three tasks as follows: Color task, Shape task and Color-Shape task. The results showed that the feature-based pattern would be activated in the human brain in processing multifeature visual information without semantic association between features. Furthermore, shape feature was processed earlier than color feature, and the cognitive processing of color feature was more difficult than that of shape feature.

▶Feature precedence exists in processing multifeature visual information. ▶Shape feature is processed earlier than color feature. ▶The cognitive processing of color feature is more difficult than shape feature. ▶Different brain regions are involved in processing of different features. ▶Feature-based pattern is activated when visual features are semantically unrelated.