Bramão, InêsReis, AlexandraPetersson, Karl MagnusFaísca, Luís2014-07-312014-07-312011Bramao, Ines; Reis, Alexandra; Petersson, Karl Magnus; Faísca, Luís. The role of color information on object recognition: A review and meta-analysis, Acta Psychologica, 138, 1, 244-253, 2011.0001-6918AUT: LFA00717; AIR01687; MIB02287; KMP02316;http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/4877In this study, we systematically review the scientific literature on the effect of color on object recognition. Thirty-five independent experiments, comprising 1535 participants, were included in a meta-analysis. We found a moderate effect of color on object recognition (d=0.28). Specific effects of moderator variables were analyzed and we found that color diagnosticity is the factor with the greatest moderator effect on the influence of color in object recognition; studies using color diagnostic objects showed a significant color effect (d=0.43), whereas a marginal color effect was found in studies that used non-color diagnostic objects (d=0.18). The present study did not permit the drawing of specific conclusions about the moderator effect of the object recognition task; while the meta-analytic review showed that color information improves object recognition mainly in studies using naming tasks (d=0.36), the literature review revealed a large body of evidence showing positive effects of color information on object recognition in studies using a large variety of visual recognition tasks. We also found that color is important for the ability to recognize artifacts and natural objects, to recognize objects presented as types (line-drawings) or as tokens (photographs), and to recognize objects that are presented without surface details, such as texture or shadow. Taken together, the results of the meta-analysis strongly support the contention that color plays a role in object recognition. This suggests that the role of color should be taken into account in models of visual object recognition.engMeta-analysisLiterature reviewColor informationObject recognitionColor diagnosticityObject propertiesjournal article2014-07-30http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2011.06.010