序列依赖效应——一种全新的“历史效应”

自2014年来, 研究者在视觉加工中发现一种全新的历史效应——序列依赖效应(当前刺激加工向先前刺激方向偏移的吸引性加工偏差)。近期研究发现：该效应广泛存在于视觉加工的各个层面(既包括朝向、空间位置、数量等低级特征, 也包括身份、吸引力、美感等高级属性); 其来源极为复杂(包括感觉编码、高级皮层的反馈调节、工作记忆、决策模板、感知与决策的级联等), 反映出不同层次的过往加工痕迹向当前认知的投射。针对该效应的典型特征、影响因素、认知与神经机制, 已涌现大量研究, 同时也存在严重争论, 亟待研究者深入探讨和厘清。

Serial dependence effect: A novel “history effect”

Serial dependence effect (SDE) refers to a stable and systematic attractive bias in which cognitive processing of the current stimuli is pulled toward the stimuli presented moments ago. Existing studies have revealed many factors modulating serial dependence effects. The first one is attention. Only stimuli that are consciously perceived can produce serial dependence effects. Secondly, sensory uncertainty of stimuli also affects serial dependence effects. Particularly, previous studies had found that stimuli with higher sensory uncertainty produced higher SDE intensity. The physical characteristics of stimuli also affect serial dependence effects. In addition, the spatial and temporal distances between the neighboring stimuli also have a tuning effect on serial dependence effects. All these distinctive features and special effects (caused perception bias, but did not influence reaction times) showed that the serial dependence effect is a brand new "history effect" (the influence of past stimuli on the current stimulus).