This paper reexamines the visual search process and visual information processing from a perspective of continuous information flow. Three experiments support the continuous flow model, showing that information accumulates gradually in the visual system with concurrent response priming. The first two experiments investigated the processing of display stimuli with varying size and figure-ground contrast, confirming the continuous flow model. Experiment 3 used asynchronous target and noise onset to provide convergent evidence of the accumulative nature of information and response priming. Visual search involves recognizing or detecting a target letter or form in a display of noise. The speed and accuracy of this task depend on the number of noise elements and their similarity to the target. The mechanisms by which noise exerts its effects are not clear, but models suggest effects occur at early perceptual or decision stages. However, no model encompasses all variables in visual search. Decision level effects show that increasing noise elements increases confusion and false alarms. In energy-limited displays, the probability of a noise element reaching the detection criterion increases with more noise elements. The search process itself may also contribute to increased search time, as an internal scan mechanism is viable. Noise effects are more pervasive than can be explained by target-noise confusion or scanning time. If the target is always in a known location, search is not required. Eriksen and colleagues used a circular arrangement of letters with a precue to the target location, showing that recognition accuracy and reaction time are still influenced by noise and target-noise similarity. Evidence indicates that noise effects are not due to insufficient time to determine the target location. Experiments by Eriksen and Eriksen showed that even with known target location, recognition accuracy and decision time are influenced by noise and target-noise similarity. The effects of noise are not due to scanning or uncertainty in target location. Early perceptual level effects suggest that noise interference occurs at the input or early perceptual stage. Banks and Prinzmetal proposed a configurational hypothesis of visual detection, emphasizing early perceptual grouping. Estes suggested that noise letters inhibit target input channels, with the inhibitory effect depending on feature overlap and spatial separation. Response level effects show that noise letters can produce pronounced effects at the response level. Eriksen and Eriksen found that response-incompatible noise letters significantly increased reaction time. These effects were consistent across different separations of target and noise letters. The results of these response interference experiments rule out visual search models with discrete stages. The experiments show that noise interference occurs at the response level, suggesting that responses are activated before a decision is made. The continuous flow model suggests that information accumulates gradually in the visual system, with responses concurrently primed. Sensory system effects show that visual acuity is crucial in distinguishing targets from noise. Visual acuity decreases with retinal locus and is best in the fovea. The continuous flow model suggests that information processing is temporally distributed, with priming increasing over time. The continuous flow conception suggests that informationThis paper reexamines the visual search process and visual information processing from a perspective of continuous information flow. Three experiments support the continuous flow model, showing that information accumulates gradually in the visual system with concurrent response priming. The first two experiments investigated the processing of display stimuli with varying size and figure-ground contrast, confirming the continuous flow model. Experiment 3 used asynchronous target and noise onset to provide convergent evidence of the accumulative nature of information and response priming. Visual search involves recognizing or detecting a target letter or form in a display of noise. The speed and accuracy of this task depend on the number of noise elements and their similarity to the target. The mechanisms by which noise exerts its effects are not clear, but models suggest effects occur at early perceptual or decision stages. However, no model encompasses all variables in visual search. Decision level effects show that increasing noise elements increases confusion and false alarms. In energy-limited displays, the probability of a noise element reaching the detection criterion increases with more noise elements. The search process itself may also contribute to increased search time, as an internal scan mechanism is viable. Noise effects are more pervasive than can be explained by target-noise confusion or scanning time. If the target is always in a known location, search is not required. Eriksen and colleagues used a circular arrangement of letters with a precue to the target location, showing that recognition accuracy and reaction time are still influenced by noise and target-noise similarity. Evidence indicates that noise effects are not due to insufficient time to determine the target location. Experiments by Eriksen and Eriksen showed that even with known target location, recognition accuracy and decision time are influenced by noise and target-noise similarity. The effects of noise are not due to scanning or uncertainty in target location. Early perceptual level effects suggest that noise interference occurs at the input or early perceptual stage. Banks and Prinzmetal proposed a configurational hypothesis of visual detection, emphasizing early perceptual grouping. Estes suggested that noise letters inhibit target input channels, with the inhibitory effect depending on feature overlap and spatial separation. Response level effects show that noise letters can produce pronounced effects at the response level. Eriksen and Eriksen found that response-incompatible noise letters significantly increased reaction time. These effects were consistent across different separations of target and noise letters. The results of these response interference experiments rule out visual search models with discrete stages. The experiments show that noise interference occurs at the response level, suggesting that responses are activated before a decision is made. The continuous flow model suggests that information accumulates gradually in the visual system, with responses concurrently primed. Sensory system effects show that visual acuity is crucial in distinguishing targets from noise. Visual acuity decreases with retinal locus and is best in the fovea. The continuous flow model suggests that information processing is temporally distributed, with priming increasing over time. The continuous flow conception suggests that information