Satisfaction of Search (SOS), a phenomenon studied by medical imaging and cognitive science researchers, refers to the diminished visual search performance for a target in a search image when a prior target has already been detected. Much has been learned about the SOS effect by studying its pervasiveness across many different types of medical images, including chest radiography, abdominal contrasts, and breast imaging. Much has also been learned about the SOS effect by using simplified search images with targets that take little training to detect (see Adamo et al., 2021 for a review). In this study, we used simplified 2D and segmented-3D search images and investigated whether observers’ search performance differs between these imaging types. Consistent with research in breast imaging, Adamo et al. (2018) found that when novice and experienced observers searched for a single target, they: 1) made fewer false positives, 2) improved their hit rates, and 3) spent longer searching in segmented-3D images compared to 2D images. Here, we replicated this pattern when observers searched for multiple targets. Importantly, we also found that the SOS effect was reduced in segmented-3D images compared to 2D images, suggesting that segmented-3D imaging can improve search performance for multiple targets (abnormalities) within medical imaging.
KEYWORDS: Breast, Image segmentation, Digital breast tomosynthesis, Breast cancer, Medical imaging, Cancer detection, Tomosynthesis, Breast imaging, Digital imaging, Cancer
Satisfaction of Search (SOS), an increased likelihood of missing a lesion/target when another lesion/target was already detected in the same image, is a known search problem in medical image perception and cognitive science. Currently, it is unknown the extent to which SOS affects lesion detection in breast imaging. Here we investigated SOS rates with novices (college undergraduates) and experts (residents, fellows, and certified radiologists) in virtual (computer-generated) tomograms. The virtual images were created with the OpenVCT framework simulating the breast anatomy of patients and could contain zero, one, or two masses. Participants were asked to search and click on up to two masses per image. When compared to novices, experts: 1) made fewer false alarms (experts 19.5%, novices 29.1%; marginally significant effect), 2) were better in correct rejections (experts 76.7%, novices 44.5%), and 3) made fewer SOS errors (experts 14.2%, novices 30.7%). These findings are the first to demonstrate the SOS effect in breast imaging and emphasize the importance of expertise in breast cancer detection.
Multiple-target visual searches, where several targets may be present within a single search array, are susceptible to Subsequent Search Miss (SSM) errors—a reduction in second target detection after a first target has been found (an effect previously called Satisfaction of Search). SSM errors occur in critical search settings (e.g., radiology and airport security screening), creating concerns for public safety. To eradicate SSM errors it is vital to understand their cause(s), and the current study investigated a key proposed mechanism—searchers prematurely terminate their search after finding a first target. This proposed mechanism, termed the satisfaction account, was proposed over 50 years ago but there are no conclusive supporting data to date. “Satisfaction” has been typically assessed by comparing the total time spent on multiple-target trials to the time spent on single-target trials or by examining if search was immediately terminated after finding a first target. The current study investigated the satisfaction account by exploring variability in the time participants spent searching between finding a first target and self-terminating their search without finding a second target. This individual differences approach revealed that accuracy on a multiple-target search task related to how long participants searched after finding a first target. The relationship was highly significant, even when accounting for variation in participants’ attentional vigilance. This study provides evidence for the previously elusive satisfaction account and it adds to the growing understanding that SSM errors are a multifaceted problem.
Conference Committee Involvement (2)
Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment
16 February 2025 | San Diego, California, United States
Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment
20 February 2024 | San Diego, California, United States
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