Subject differences in cross-modality matching

Forty-eight Ss performed four tasks each: (1) magnitude estimation of area, (2) magnitude estimation of numerousness, (3) cross-modality matching of force of handgrip to area, and (4) cross-modality matching of force of handgrip to numerousness. An additional 48 Ss performed Tasks 2 and 4. Psychophysical power functions were fitted to the data of each S for each condition. Higher correlations between individual exponents were found for conditions employing a common response (i.e., estimating or squeezing) than were found for conditions with the same set of stimuli. Individual differences among exponents stem more from the idiosyncratic use of the dependent variable than from different sensory characteristics.     

A note on cross-modality matching

”Stevens' law”, that the psychophysical law is a power function, is often taken to be confirmed by results of cross-modality matching experiments, for it predicts both the fact that cross-modality matching experiments yield power functions, and the exponents of these power functions. Both these predictions, however, follow from a more general form of the psychophysical law, of which Fechner's law is a special case. In view of this, an interpretation of cross-modality matching based on stimulus discriminability rather than sensation magnitude is proposed.     

Intraindividual consistency on a cross-modality matching task

Three observers matched tone bursts and flashes for stimulus magnitude. Matches were made by each observer during 14 sessions over a 2-month period. No intraindividual differences in power function exponents were found. Power function exponents for individuals seem to remain constant across many repetitions of this psychophysical task.     

The influence of trial-to-trial recalibration on sequential effects in cross-modality matching

Sequential effects are examined in a cross-modality matching experiment where observers adjusted the loudness of a tone in response to presented lengths of a metal tape. In one condition, the initial level of the tone to be adjusted was the same as the final adjusted level of the previous trial, whereas in another condition, the tone to be adjusted was reset to a different level before each trial. A fit of the DeCarlo-Cross dynamic model shows that the primary effect of the manipulation was on a judgmental factor, with little or no effect on a perceptual factor. We suggest that starting a trial with the tone at the final adjusted level of the previous trial induced the observer to rely more heavily on the loudness-length pair of the previous trial as a frame of reference for relative judgment; we call this reliance trial-to-trial recalibration. In contrast, when the tone is set to a level independent of its value on the previous trial, there is virtually no effect of one trial on the next trial's performance, a result consistent with the observer maintaining a stable frame of reference. We argue that sequential effects are not unavoidable and that the technique described here adds to a growing list of methods for reducing or eliminating them.     

Variability and sequential effects in cross-modality matching of area and loudness

Individual subjects' performance was examined for cross-modality matching (CMM) of loudness to visual area, as well as for magnitude estimation (ME) of the component continua. Average exponents of power functions relating response magnitude to stimulus intensity were .73 for area, .20 for loudness, and 2.44 for CMM. Predictions of the CMM exponent based on ME were higher than the empirical values, whereas more accurate predictions were made from magnitude production exponents obtained in a previous study. Sequential dependencies were assessed by comparing the response on trial n to the response on trial n--1. The coefficient of variation of the response ratio Rn/Rn-1 was systematically related to the stimulus ratio Sn/Sn-1 for both area and loudness. The coefficient was lowest for ratios near 1 and increased for larger or smaller values. For CMM, the coefficient of variation appeared to be independent of stimulus ratios. The correlation between log Rn and log Rn-1 was also related to Sn/Sn-1 for both ME and CMM. The correlation was highest when Sn/Sn-1 was 1 and dropped to 0 with increasing stimulus separation, but CMM yielded a shallower function than ME.     

Inverse cross-modality matching: A test of ratio judgment consistency for group and individual data

Direct and inverse cross-modality matches made by 20 subjects were assessed for ratio judgment consistency. Each subject matched apparent duration to loudness, and vice versa, in both a directly and an inversely proportional manner. All four tasks were repeated twice so that individual differences could be examined using interrepetition correlations. Group data exhibited the appropriate inverse relationship indicative of consistency, although the inverse matches were slightly curvilinear and resembled earlier studies with inverse attribute scales. Some individuals showed a high degree of consistency but many departed widely from inverse proportionality. Individual differences in exponents, which occurred for both types of tasks, were not removed by S. S. Stevens’ (1971) regression balance procedure. However, interrepetition correlations for the differences in the absolute values of the direct and inverse exponents of individuals were nonsignificant, suggesting that when subjects’ exponents differed for the two types of tasks they did so on a random basis. The latter finding implies that subjects would give inversely proportional matches were it not for random factors. The findings were discussed in relation to other types of ratio consistency.     

A theory of criterion setting: an alternative to the attention band and response ratio hypotheses in magnitude estimation and cross-modality matching

The attention band and response ratio hypotheses of Green and Luce (1974) and Luce and Green (1974) are discussed and some difficulties are noted. An alternative hypothesis is put forward. This is based on a Thurstonian model for magnitude estimation in which the presented stimulus intensities are subjected to a logarithmic transformation. Response criteria are then applied to the resulting quantities to select corresponding responses. The setting and maintenance of these response criteria are accounted for by a theory of criterion setting previously developed by the senior author (Treisman & Williams, 1984). A similar model is developed for cross-modality matching, and it is shown that these models can predict the V pattern for the coefficient of variation of response ratios, can predict the inverted V pattern for correlations between successive responses, and can account for some of the difficulties found in the literature.     

On predicting exponents for cross-modality matches

Mashhour and Hosman used magnitude estimations to scale seven continua: line length, time duration, finger span, loudness of noise, weight, gray reflectance, and surface area. The first four continua also served as the adjusted stimuli in 17 cross-modality matches among the various continua. Contrary to the view expressed by Mashhour and Hosman, the results appear to support the psychophysical power law. A reanalysis of the data shows that the exponents of the power functions obtained in cross-modality matches agree with the exponents of the power functions produced by magnitude estimations, provided correction is made for the regression effect. The measured discrepancies between the exponents predicted and those actually obtained show scatter that is consistent with that of other experiments. In particular, the scatter accords well with the distribution of 68 exponents predicted by Moskowitz from experiments in which Os matched both number and loudness to various taste concentrations.     

The recollective experience of cross-modality confusion errors

There are at least two qualitatively different types of subjective experience that can accompany accurate recognition memory. Sometimes recognition is accompanied by conscious recollection of the learning episode (i.e., it isremembered), and in other cases it is not (i.e., it is simplyknown that the item is old). In the present study, we assessed the subjective experience that accompanies crossmodality confusion errors (misidentifying words as pictures) by measuring the extent to which subjects claimed toremember versusknow that the item was presented as a picture. The results of two experiments demonstrate that cross-modality confusion errors are often accompanied by conscious recollection, although not to the same extent as accurate memories. The findings also show that there is considerable overlap in the recollective experience that accompanies accurate and erroneous memories. Finally, the results support the contention that recollective experience cannot be directly inferred from test performance.     

The picture superiority effect in a cross-modality recognition task

Words and pictures were studied, and recognition tests were given in which each studied object was to be recognized in both word and picture format. The main dependent variable was the latency of the recognition decision. The purpose was to investigate the effects of study modality (word or picture), of congruence between study and test modalities, and of priming resulting from repeated testing. Experiments 1 and 2 used the same basic design, but the latter also varied retention interval. Experiment 3 added a manipulation of instructions to name studied objects, and Experiment 4 deviated from the others by presenting both picture and word referring to the same object together for study. The results showed that congruence between study and test modalities consistently facilitated recognition. Furthermore, items studied as pictures were more rapidly recognized than were items studied as words. With repeated testing, the second instance was affected by its predecessor, but the facilitating effect of picture-to-word priming exceeded that of word-to-picture priming. The findings suggest a two-stage recognition process, in which the first is based on perceptual familiarity and the second uses semantic links for a retrieval search. Common-code theories that grant privileged access to the semantic code for pictures or, alternatively, dual-code theories that assume mnemonic superiority for the image code are supported by the findings. Explanations of the picture superiority effect as resulting from dual encoding of pictures are not supported by the data.     

Within-modality and cross-modality attentional blinks in a simple discrimination task

Following up on studies of the "attentional blink," we studied interference between successive target stimuli in visual and auditory modalities. In each experiment, stimuli were two tones and four dots, simultaneously presented for 1,800 msec. Targets were brief intensity changes in either a tone or a dot. Subjects gave unspeeded responses. In four experiments, our results showed interference between targets in the same modality, but not across modalities. We conclude that, under our experimental conditions, restrictions in concurrent target identification are largely modality specific.     

An investigation of cross-modality effects in implicit and explicit memory

Three experiments are reported which investigate the effects of study/test compatibility on implicit and explicit memory performance. In the first experiment subjects either named each visually presented target item, or generated each item from a close semantic associate. They were then given either a free recall test or a visual word-stem completion task. A generation effect was evident in the free recall data (generated items were better recalled than named items) and this pattern was reversed for word-stem completion. In the second experiment subjects again named or generated items and were then given an auditory word-stem completion task. Under these conditions, cross-modal priming was found both for named and for generated items, but the reverse generation effect, which was evident in Experiment 1 with word-stem completion, was eliminated. In the final experiment, subjects were asked to name the targets, read them silently, or read them under conditions of articulatory suppression, and were then given an auditory stem completion task. Significant cross-modal priming was observed under all three conditions. The strongest priming was found in the naming condition and the weakest in the suppression condition. The results are interpreted within the transfer appropriate processing framework.     

Anchors aweigh: a demonstration of cross-modality anchoring and magnitude priming

Research has shown that judgments tend to assimilate to irrelevant "anchors." We extend anchoring effects to show that anchors can even operate across modalities by, apparently, priming a general sense of magnitude that is not moored to any unit or scale. An initial study showed that participants drawing long "anchor" lines made higher numerical estimates of target lengths than did those drawing shorter lines. We then replicated this finding, showing that a similar pattern was obtained even when the target estimates were not in the dimension of length. A third study showed that an anchor's length relative to its context, and not its absolute length, is the key to predicting the anchor's impact on judgments. A final study demonstrated that magnitude priming (priming a sense of largeness or smallness) is a plausible mechanism underlying the reported effects. We conclude that the boundary conditions of anchoring effects may be much looser than previously thought, with anchors operating across modalities and dimensions to bias judgment.     

The role of response processes in the formation of cross-modality assimilation effects

A unimanual, two-digit choice-reaction-time task was used in conjunction with visual signals presented in the extreme peripheral field. The position of the signal on the retina, the eye stimulated, the hand used in responding, and the operating digits were all controlled for their effects. Stimulus-response compatibility was maintained throughout. It was found that RT to ipsilateral S-R pathways was consistently faster than when the pathways involved transcommissural connections. Subsidiary findings related to differences between the operating digits and the side of signal occurrence. These effects are discussed in connection with known interhemispheric phenomena and other CRT findings.     

Sequential dependencies and response range in cross-modality matches of duration to loudness

Subjects matched durations of keypresses to loudnesses of pure tones. Resulting duration responses were found to be assimilated to the value of the immediately preceding stimulus and responses from one to at least six trials back in the sequence of loudness stimuli. Responses were contrasted with the values of stimuli two through six trials back in the sequence. These sequential dependencies and other properties of the data were predicted by a cognitive model in which cross-modality matches are mediated by category judgments of stimuli on both continua, and subjects use heuristic strategies to reduce response uncertainty.     

Revisiting within-modality and cross-modality attentional blinks: effects of target-distractor similarity

When two masked targets (T1 and T2) require attention and are presented within half a second of each other, the report accuracy for T2 is reduced, relative to when the two targets are presented farther apart in time. This effect is known as the attentional blink (AB). Potter, Chun, Banks, and Muckenhoupt (1998) argued that all AB-like effects observed when at least one of the targets was presented outside of the visual modality did not represent true instances of the AB, but instead were artifacts of task-set switching. However, in the Potter et al. experiments the presence or absence of task-set switching opportunities was confounded with the T2 task, as well as the alphanumeric class of T2 with respect to the distractors. In the present experiment, we examine the influence of T1 alphanumeric class, T2 alphanumeric class, and switching operations in a fully crossed design that unconfounds these factors. In contrast to the conclusions of Potter et al., the present results suggest that the T2 alphanumeric class can account for the pattern of ABs observed across conditions, without necessarily implicating a separate switch cost. The implications for theoretical models of the AB and the debate over the validity of cross-modal ABs are discussed.     

Learning to learn: From within-modality to cross-modality transfer during infancy

One critical aspect of learning is the ability to apply learned knowledge to new situations. This ability to transfer is often limited, and its development is not well understood. The current research investigated the development of transfer between 8 and 16 months of age. In Experiment 1, 8- and 16-month-olds (who were established to have a preference to the beginning of a visual sequence) were trained to attend to the end of a sequence. They were then tested on novel visual sequences. Results indicated transfer of learning, with both groups changing baseline preferences as a result of training. In Experiment 2, participants were trained to attend to the end of a visual sequence and were then tested on an auditory sequence. Unlike Experiment 1, only older participants exhibited transfer of learning by changing baseline preferences. These findings suggest that the generalization of learning becomes broader with development, with transfer across modalities developing later than transfer within a modality.     

Short-term implicit memory: Visual, auditory, and cross-modality priming

Short-term implicit memory was examined for mixed auditory (A) and visual (V) stimuli. In lexical decision, words and nonwords were repeated at lags of 0, 1, 3, and 6 intervening trials, in four prime-target combinations (VV, VA, AV, AA). Same-modality repetition priming showed a lag x lexicality interaction for visual stimuli (nonwords decayed faster), but not for auditory stimuli (longer lasting smooth decay for both words and nonwords). These modality differences suggest that short-term priming has a perceptual locus, with the phonological lexicon maintaining stimuli active longer than the orthographic lexicon and treating pseudowords as potential words. We interpret these differences in terms of the different memory needs of speech recognition and text reading. Weak cross-modality short-term priming was present for words and nonwords, indicating recoding between perceptual forms.     

Probability matching

The class of symmetric path-independent models with experimenter-controlled events is considered in conjunction with two-choice probability learning experiments. Various refinements of the notion of probability matching are defined, and the incidence of these properties within this class is studied. It is shown that the linear models are the only models of this class that predict a certain phenomenon that we call stationary probability matching. It is also shown that models within this class that possess an additional property called marginal constancy predict approximate probability matching.This research grew out of questions posed by William K. Estes. We are also indebted to Professor Estes for his encouragement and assistance at all stages of this research. During the course of this research J. I. Y. received support from the U. S. Public Health Service (N. I. M. H.). M. F. N.'s present address is the University of Pennsylvania. J. I. Y.'s present address is the University of Minnesota.     

Hemisphere-specific processes in letter matching

Three experiments were designed to investigate outstanding questions concerning the effect of memory load variations on efficiency and coding processes in the left and right cerebral hemispheres. In Experiment 1 subjects were presented with one, two, or three target letters in uppercase or lowercase in central vision, followed by simultaneous bilateral probes requiring a name match response. Twenty young right-handed adults, 10 males and 10 females, acted as subjects. Two main features of the results were as follows: (a) The slope of the linear function relating mean reaction time (RT) and set size was 30% greater for right visual field (RVF)-left-hemisphere probe stimuli under both physical and name identity conditions, and (b) RT for RVF-left-hemisphere probes was greater when the probe was drawn from preterminal serial position in the target list. Experiments 2 and 3 examined the proposition that the results of Experiment 1 reflected asymmetric interference during list acquisition. The results showed that, first, the LVF-right-hemisphere advantage was eliminated or reversed under unilateral probe presentation conditions, and second, the LVF-right-hemisphere advantage for a single, preterminal serial position was insensitive to variations in the interitem interval. The results are thought to be inconsistent with the interference hypothesis. The general implications of the results for existing theories of hemisphere function are discussed.