Abstract
Transmodal perceptual learning was examined in a canonicalsame/different paradigm. Subjects native to vibrotactile stimulation and unfamiliar with the task were asked to discriminate sequentially presented shapes moving laterally across an aperture. On all trials, the shapes were presented either visually and then vibrotactually or in the opposite modality order, and on all trials the shapes moved in opposite directions. Analyses of the data revealed that although perceptual learning was evident in both groups, the rate of the learning was more rapid in the visual-vibrotactile group. This interaction of modality order and practice was significant and was considered in terms of E. J. Gibson’s theory of perceptual learning and in terms of the constructs, suggested by J. J. Gibson, of available and accessible information-in-stimulation and the education of attention.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anstis, S. M., &Atkinson, J. (1967) Distortions in moving figures viewed through a stationary slit.American Journal of Psychology,80, 572–585
Carroli, J. D., &Chang, J. (1970) Analysis of individual differences in multidimensional scaling via anN-way generalization of “Eckart-Young” decomposition.Psychometrika,35, 283–319
Carroli, J. D., &Wish, M. (1974) Models and methods for threeway multidimensional scaling In. D H Krantz, R C Atkinson, R D Luce, & P Suppes (Eds),Contemporary developments in mathematical psychology Vol 2 Measurement, psychophysics, and neural information processing (pp 75–123) San Francisco W H Freeman
Casco, C., &Morgan, M. J. (1984) The relationship between space and time in the perception of stimuli moving behind a slitPerception,13, 429–441
Epstein, W. (1985) Transmodal perception and amodal information In D Warren & E Strelow (Eds).Electronic spatial sensing for the blind. Dordrecht. Martinus Nijhoff
Epstein, W., Hughes, B., Schneider, S., &Bach-y-Rita, P (1989) Perceptual learning of spatiotemporal events Evidence from an unfamiliar modality.Journal of Experimental Psychology Human Perception & Performance,15, 28–44
Garbin, C. P. (1988) Visual-haptic perceptual nonequivalence for shape information and its impact upon cross-modal performance.Journal of Experimental Psychology Human Perception & Performance,14, 547–553
Gibson, E. J. (1969)Principles of perceptual learning and development. New York. Appleton-Century-Crofts
Gibson, E. J., &Gibson, J. J. (1955) Perceptual learning Differentiation or enrichment?Psychological Review,62, 32–41
Gibson, J. J. (1966)The senses considered as perceptual systems. Boston Houghton Mifflin
Gibson, J. J. (1979)The ecological approach to visual perception Boston. Houghton Mifflin
Grifr, J. B. (1971) Nonparametric indexes for sensitivity and bias Computing formulas.Psychological Bulletin,75, 424–429
Jones, B. (1981) The developmental significance of cross-modal matching In. R. Walk & H. L. Pick (Eds.)Intersensory perception and sensory integration (pp 128–148) New York Plenum
Loomis, J. M. (1980) Interaction of display mode and character size in vibrotactile letter recognition.Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society,16, 385–387
Loomis, J. M. (1981) Tactile pattern perception.Perception,10, 5–27
Loomis, J. M. (1982) Analysis of tactile and visual confusion matrices.Perception & Psychophysics,31. 41–52
Loomis, J. M., &Ledfrman, S. J. (1986)Tactual perception. In and human performance (Vol 2, pp 3111–3141). New York Wiley
Marks I. F. (1978)The unity of the senses Interrelations among the modalities. New York,. Academic Press
Morgan, M. J. Finiay, J. M., &Wati, R. J. (1982) Aperture viewing A review and synthesis.Quarterty Journal of Experimental Psychology,34A, 211–233.
Rock, I. (1981) Anorthoscopie perception.Scientific American,244, 145–153.
Schnfider, S. L., Hughes, B., Epsilin, W. &Bach-Y-Rita, P. (1986) The detection of length and orientation changes in dyramic vibrotachle patterns.Perception & Psychophysics,40, 290–300
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research has been supported by Grant 1 R01 EY0 6719 from the National Institutes of Health, awarded to William Epstein.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hughes, B., Epstein, W., Schneider, S. et al. An asymmetry in transmodal perceptual learning. Perception & Psychophysics 48, 143–150 (1990). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03207081
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03207081