投稿—基于Stroop效应和SNARC效应的大数量自动加工研究

在数字自动加工研究中,已有研究的实验对象一般局限在小数量数字上,大数量数字加工中是否也存在自动激活现象尚未获得实验证据。本研究以大数量为研究对象,以Stroop效应和SNARC效应为自动加工的指标,实验一发现,无论是数字语义比较还是数字个数比较,都出现了典型的数字Stroop效应;实验二的结果表明,在大数量个数的比较任务中存在SNARC效应和顺序效应。由实验结果初步推断,在大数量加工中也存在无关维度数量信息的自动激活。     

整体-局部条件下的数字加工研究

以局部阿拉伯数字组成整体阿拉伯数字为实验材料,采用数字大小比较任务来探讨在数字加工任务中的整体-局部的干扰效应。实验结果是,数字大小一致反应比不一致反应加工要好;整体与局部之间存在双向干扰,没有发现整体加工优势。文中最后讨论了整体-局部的复杂加工情况。     

物理大小和面积的无意识空间表征

意识水平的研究发现,数字量的比较机制与物理刺激比较的机制是一样的;在无意识水平上的研究发现,数字加工存在无意识语义启动现象。我们假设,在数字的物理特性的比较任务中可能存在无意识启动效应和类SNARC效应。实验一的数字比较任务和数字的物理大小比较任务发现,在33毫秒的无意识启动条件下,数字语义比较任务和数字物理大小比较任务中都发现了类SNARC效应、启动效应以及Stroop效应。实验二的数字覆盖面积比较任务中发现,在33毫秒的启动水平,数字比较与数字覆盖面积的比较任务中均存在SNARC效应、Stroop效应和启动效应。     

异同判断加工中整体和局部特征的作用

采用三种整体局部特征（关系-属性,全局-局部,抽象-具体）图形,要求3组大学生被试完成异同判断任务,以考察异同判断加工中整体和局部特征的作用,探讨异同比较的加工机制。三个实验的结果表明：⑴三种整体特征均可加速同反应,因而不支持同判断加工是整体匹配的观点;⑵存在快同效应,但并不支持同判断的快速加工器对整个刺激加工完成后慢速比较器才开始工作的观点;⑶异反应时随差异特征的增多而减小,从而进一步支持异判断是分析加工、自终止的观点;⑷异反应时随差异特征从上至下、从整体到局部而增加,意味着异判断加工的顺序可能是自上而下、从整体到局部。上述结果支持研究假设：同判断的快速加工器先加工整体特征,然后再和异判断的慢速比较器一起开始加工局部特征。     

复合汉字刺激心理旋转加工中的整体优先效应

以复合汉字为材料,通过两个实验探讨在心理旋转加工中是否存在整体/局部优先效应。实验一检验视知觉中的整体优先效应,实验二考察心理旋转加工中是否存在整体优先效应。结果表明:延长刺激呈现时间直至被试做出反应,在正镜像判断的纯视觉任务中不存在视觉整体优先效应;在心理旋转任务中,大汉字(整体)旋转条件反应时与小汉字(局部)旋转反应时差异不显著。这些结果说明复合汉字刺激心理旋转加工中不存在整体优先效应。     

数量对时间知觉的影响-来自抽象数量和实际数量的证据

本研究采用抽象数量和实际数量叠加的方式呈现刺激,进一步探讨数量对时间知觉的影响。两个实验都运用时间的系列比较任务,以抽象数量和实际数量这两种数量的一致和不一致为条件,将阿拉伯数字和其字体大小叠加及阿拉伯数字和其呈现个数叠加的方式系列呈现在屏幕中央,要求被试比较判断刺激呈现的时间长短。结果显示被试均依靠实际数量的大小判断时间长短,而似乎忽略了抽象数量的存在。这一结果表明实际数量对时间知觉的影响要比抽象数量大,支持并扩展了数量理论。     

情绪一致性编码与情绪一致性提取的非对称性研究

采用情绪一致性记忆范式,探索情绪一致性编码与提取之间的关系。两个实验先后选取180名普通大学生和180名普通中学生做被试,情绪电影片段诱发被试在编码或提取阶段高兴或悲伤的情绪状态,被试在学习情绪词后完成分心任务再进行自由回忆。实验分别控制被试在编码或提取时的情绪状态和被试在学习情绪词时的加工策略。结果发现:长时记忆存在情绪一致性编码和情绪一致性提取效应,但是不同加工策略下情绪一致性提取存在差异,情绪渗透模型无法解释该差异。结果表明,从行为研究层面发现情绪一致性编码与提取存在非对称性。     

任务转换对SNARC效应的抑制

采用任务转换范式,要求被试判断呈现数字的大小或奇偶性,考察了任务转换对SNARC效应的影响。结果发现:任务重复组被试对小数字用左手反应更快,对大数字用右手反应更快,任务重复组被试在数字认知加工中出现了经典的SNARC效应。相反,任务转换组被试在数字认知加工中未出现SNARC效应。由此可以推测,任务转换对SNARC效应具有抑制作用。     

情绪词编码的不同方式对ECM的影响

该研究采用ECM实验范式,操纵被试编码阶段加工方式,分析被试情绪状态与记忆成绩之间关系。情绪电影片段诱发被试高兴或悲伤情绪后,要求被试在学习情绪词时进行有意记忆或熟悉判断或结构判断,完成分心任务后进行自由回忆。结果发现:高兴组和悲伤组采用三种加工方式学习情绪词时均出现ECM;在高兴或悲伤状态下,被试进行结构判断学习情绪词时ECM效应量大,进行有意记忆和熟悉判断学习情绪词时ECM效应量小。     

视知觉无意识对局部形状和颜色特征加工的注意调节

研究了视知觉无意识对局部几何特征加工中的整体优势效应.被试为天津师范大学本科生60名.仪器为pentium III高分辨率计算机,程序用E-prime心理实验软件系统编制而成.被试的任务是判断靶图形中央线条的方向或颜色.用MANOVA分析了启动图形对靶图形局部特征加工的启动效应,发现了视知觉对无意识呈现的图形加工具有形状优势效应,启动图形与靶图形的整体形状相同可以抑制对靶图形局部形状特征的判断.当被试的任务变成判断靶线条的颜色或启动图形的边由连通状态变成不连通时,视知觉无意识对启动图形加工的整体优势效应消失.该结果提示整体优势效应很可能与任务涉及的信息通道密切相关,对局部形状特征的注意很可能涉及对周围整体形状信息加工自动抑制的过程.     

Holistic or compositional representation of two-digit numbers? Evidence from the distance, magnitude, and SNARC effects in a number-matching task

Whether two-digit numbers are represented holistically (each digit pair processed as one number) or compositionally (each digit pair processed separately as a decade digit and a unit digit) remains unresolved. Two experiments were conducted to examine the distance, magnitude, and SNARC effects in a number-matching task involving two-digit numbers. Forty undergraduates were asked to judge whether two two-digit numbers (presented serially in Experiment 1 and simultaneously in Experiment 2) were the same or not. Results showed that, when numbers were presented serially, unit digits did not make unique contributions to the magnitude and distance effects, supporting the holistic model. When numbers were presented simultaneously, unit digits made unique contributions, supporting the compositional model. The SNARC (Spatial-Numerical Association of Response Codes) effect was evident for the whole numbers and the decade digits, but not for the unit digits in both experiments, which indicates that two-digit numbers are represented on one mental number line. Taken together, these results suggested that the representation of two-digit numbers is on a single mental number line, but it depends on the stage of processing whether they are processed holistically or compositionally.     

Comparing two-digit numbers: the importance of being presented together

The effect of presentation mode on magnitude comparisons of two-digit (2D) numbers was examined using the stimuli set developed by Nuerk, Weger, and Willmes (2001). In Experiment 1, only number pairs from difference decades were presented either simultaneously or sequentially. In the former case there was evidence for the parallel processing of both the units and decades digits and for a components representation, consistent with previous findings. In contrast, in the latter case there was evidence for the processing of mainly the decades digits. In Experiment 2, within-decade number pairs were added to make both digits task relevant. The results from the simultaneous condition were again consistent with a components representation, while results from the sequential presentation were in line with a holistic representation, in line with Zhang and Wang's (2005) research. Results therefore suggest that the processing of 2D numbers depends on the way they are presented.     

Response-retrieval and negative priming

The existence of across-notation automatic numerical processing of two-digit (2D) numbers was explored using size comparisons tasks. Participants were Arabic speakers, who use two sets of numerical symbols—Arabic and Indian. They were presented with pairs of 2D numbers in the same or in mixed notations. Responses for a numerical comparison task were affected by decade difference and unit-decade compatibility and global distance in both conditions, extending previous findings with Arabic digits (Nuerk, Weger, & Willmes, 2001). Responses for a physical comparison task were affected by congruency with the numerical size, as indicated by the size congruency effect (SiCE). The SiCE was affected by unit-decade compatibility but not by global distance, thus suggesting that the units and decades digits of the 2D numbers, but not the whole number value were automatically translated into a common representation of magnitude. The presence of similar results for same- and mixed-notation pairs supports the idea of an abstract representation of magnitude.     

Sequential or parallel decomposed processing of two-digit numbers? Evidence from eye-tracking

While reaction time data have shown that decomposed processing of two-digit numbers occurs, there is little evidence about how decomposed processing functions. Poltrock and Schwartz (1984) argued that multi-digit numbers are compared in a sequential digit-by-digit fashion starting at the leftmost digit pair. In contrast, Nuerk and Willmes (2005) favoured parallel processing of the digits constituting a number. These models (i.e., sequential decomposition, parallel decomposition) make different predictions regarding the fixation pattern in a two-digit number magnitude comparison task and can therefore be differentiated by eye fixation data. We tested these models by evaluating participants' eye fixation behaviour while selecting the larger of two numbers. The stimulus set consisted of within-decade comparisons (e.g., 53_57) and between-decade comparisons (e.g., 42_57). The between-decade comparisons were further divided into compatible and incompatible trials (cf. Nuerk, Weger, & Willmes, 2001) and trials with different decade and unit distances. The observed fixation pattern implies that the comparison of two-digit numbers is not executed by sequentially comparing decade and unit digits as proposed by Poltrock and Schwartz (1984) but rather in a decomposed but parallel fashion. Moreover, the present fixation data provide first evidence that digit processing in multi-digit numbers is not a pure bottom-up effect, but is also influenced by top-down factors. Finally, implications for multi-digit number processing beyond the range of two-digit numbers are discussed.     

Working memory and two-digit number processing

The processing of two-digit numbers in comparison tasks involves the activation and manipulation of magnitude information to decide which number is larger. The present study explored the role of different working memory (WM) components and skills in the processing of two-digit numbers by examining the unit–decade compatibility effect with Arabic digits and number words. In the study, the unit–decade compatibility effect and different WM components were evaluated. The results indicated that the unit–decade compatibility effect was associated to specific WM skills depending on the number format (Arabic digits and number words). We discussed the implications of these results for the decomposed view of two-digit numbers.     

Flexible and unique representations of two-digit decimals

We examined the representation of two-digit decimals through studying distance and compatibility effects in magnitude comparison tasks in four experiments. Using number pairs with different leftmost digits, we found both the second digit distance effect and compatibility effect with two-digit integers but only the second digit distance effect with two-digit pure decimals. This suggests that both integers and pure decimals are processed in a compositional manner. In contrast, neither the second digit distance effect nor the compatibility effect was observed in two-digit mixed decimals, thereby showing no evidence for compositional processing of two-digit mixed decimals. However, when the relevance of the rightmost digit processing was increased by adding some decimals pairs with the same leftmost digits, both pure and mixed decimals produced the compatibility effect. Overall, results suggest that the processing of decimals is flexible and depends on the relevance of unique digit positions. This processing mode is different from integer analysis in that two-digit mixed decimals demonstrate parallel compositional processing only when the rightmost digit is relevant. Findings suggest that people probably do not represent decimals by simply ignoring the decimal point and converting them to natural numbers.     

Multi-digit number processing beyond the two-digit number range: a combination of sequential and parallel processes

Investigations of multi-digit number processing typically focus on two-digit numbers. Here, we aim to investigate the generality of results from two-digit numbers for four- and six-digit numbers. Previous studies on two-digit numbers mostly suggested a parallel processing of tens and units. In contrast, the few studies examining the processing of larger numbers suggest sequential processing of the individual constituting digits. In this study, we combined the methodological approaches of studies implying either parallel or sequential processing. Participants completed a number magnitude comparison task on two-, four-, and six-digit numbers including unit-decade compatible and incompatible differing digit pairs (e.g., 32_47, 3<4 and 2<7 vs. 37_52, 3<5 but 7>2, respectively) at all possible digit positions. Response latencies and fixation behavior indicated that sequential and parallel decomposition is not exclusive in multi-digit number processing. Instead, our results clearly suggested that sequential and parallel processing strategies seem to be combined when processing multi-digit numbers beyond the two-digit number range. To account for the results, we propose a chunking hypothesis claiming that multi-digit numbers are separated into chunks of shorter digit strings. While the different chunks are processed sequentially digits within these chunks are processed in parallel.     

Sequential or parallel decomposed processing of two-digit numbers? Evidence from eye-tracking

While reaction time data have shown that decomposed processing of two-digit numbers occurs, there is little evidence about how decomposed processing functions. Poltrock and Schwartz (1984) argued that multi-digit numbers are compared in a sequential digit-by-digit fashion starting at the leftmost digit pair. In contrast, Nuerk and Willmes (2005) favoured parallel processing of the digits constituting a number. These models (i.e., sequential decomposition, parallel decomposition) make different predictions regarding the fixation pattern in a two-digit number magnitude comparison task and can therefore be differentiated by eye fixation data. We tested these models by evaluating participants' eye fixation behaviour while selecting the larger of two numbers. The stimulus set consisted of within-decade comparisons (e.g., 53_57) and between-decade comparisons (e.g., 42_57). The between-decade comparisons were further divided into compatible and incompatible trials (cf. Nuerk, Weger, & Willmes, 2001) and trials with different decade and unit distances. The observed fixation pattern implies that the comparison of two-digit numbers is not executed by sequentially comparing decade and unit digits as proposed by Poltrock and Schwartz (1984) but rather in a decomposed but parallel fashion. Moreover, the present fixation data provide first evidence that digit processing in multi-digit numbers is not a pure bottom-up effect, but is also influenced by top-down factors. Finally, implications for multi-digit number processing beyond the range of two-digit numbers are discussed.     

Automaticity for numerical magnitude of two-digit Arabic numbers in children

This paper examines the automatic processing of the numerical magnitude of two-digit Arabic numbers using a Stroop-like task in school-aged children. Second, third, and fourth graders performed physical size judgments on pairs of two-digit numbers varying on both physical and numerical dimensions. To investigate the importance of synchrony between the speed of processing of the numerical magnitude and the physical dimensions on the size congruity effect (SCE), we used masked priming: numerical magnitude was subliminally primed in half of the trials, while neutral priming was used in the other half. The results indicate a SCE in physical judgments, providing the evidence of automatic access to the magnitude of two-digit numbers in children. This effect was modulated by the priming type, as a SCE only appeared when the numerical magnitude was primed. This suggests that young children needed a relative synchronization of numerical and physical dimensions to access the magnitude of two-digit numbers automatically.     

Exploring the developmental changes in automatic two-digit number processing

Even when two-digit numbers are irrelevant to the task at hand, adults process them. Do children process numbers automatically, and if so, what kind of information is activated? In a novel dot-number Stroop task, children (Grades 1-5) and adults were shown two different two-digit numbers made up of dots. Participants were asked to select the number that contained the larger dots. If numbers are processed automatically, reaction time for dot size judgment should be affected by numerical characteristics. The results suggest that, like adults, children process two-digit numbers automatically. Based on the current findings, we propose a developmental trend for automatic two-digit number processing that goes from decomposed sequential (activation of decade digit followed by that of unit digit) to decomposed parallel processing (simultaneous activation of decade and unit digits).