Differences in the types of musical regularity learnt in incidental- and intentional-learning conditions

Several studies have found learning of biconditional grammars only under intentional rule-search conditions (e.g., Johnstone & Shanks, 2001). Memorization of strings merely led to the learning of chunks. We used a musical grammar, a diatonic inversion, that is a type of biconditional grammar. Participants either were required to memorize a set of grammatical tunes (incidental learning), or were asked to search for the underlying rule whilst being given feedback about their performance (intentional learning). The results showed that participants in the incidental-learning condition did not learn the inversion rule and merely acquired explicit knowledge about chunks. However, participants in the intentional-learning condition learnt both the inversion rule and chunks.     

Implicit learning of nonlocal musical rules: implicitly learning more than chunks

Dominant theories of implicit learning assume that implicit learning merely involves the learning of chunks of adjacent elements in a sequence. In the experiments presented here, participants implicitly learned a nonlocal rule, thus suggesting that implicit learning can go beyond the learning of chunks. Participants were exposed to a set of musical tunes that were all generated using a diatonic inversion. In the subsequent test phase, participants either classified test tunes as obeying a rule (direct test) or rated their liking for the tunes (indirect test). Both the direct and indirect tests were sensitive to knowledge of chunks. However, only the indirect test was sensitive to knowledge of the inversion rule. Furthermore, the indirect test was overall significantly more sensitive than the direct test, thus suggesting that knowledge of the inversion rule was below an objective threshold of awareness.     

人工语法范式下的无意识知识探析

人工语法范式不仅是内隐学习领域广泛运用的范式,同时也是研究无意识知识的主要方法。文章通过对人工语法范式组成材料中的刺激频率、组块等方面进行深入探讨,不仅使人们对无意识知识有了更全面的认识,而且也有利于对内隐学习获得规则知识的假设提出更确定的回答;并通过对无意识知识的神经机制研究以及考察镜射规则学习过程的脑神经激活状况,获得了规则学习对应更为准确的脑神经活动,推动了人工语法范式下无意识知识的深入研究。     

Implicit learning of a recursive rule in an artificial grammar

Participants performed an artificial grammar learning task, in which the standard finite state grammar (J. Verb. Learn. Verb. Behavior 6 (1967) 855) was extended with a recursive rule generating self-embedded sequences. We studied the learnability of such a rule in two experiments. The results verify the general hypothesis that recursivity can be learned in an artificial grammar learning task. However this learning seems to be rather based on recognising chunks than on abstract rule induction. First, performance was better for strings with more than one level of self-embedding in the sequence, uncovering more clearly the self-embedding pattern. Second, the infinite repeatability of the recursive rule application was not spontaneously induced from the training, but it was when an additional cue about this possibility was given. Finally, participants were able to verbalise their knowledge of the fragments making up the sequences-especially in the crucial front and back positions-, whereas knowledge of the underlying structure, to the extent it was acquired, was not articulatable. The results are discussed in relation to previous studies on the implicit learnability of complex and abstract rules.     

先前知识经验对远距离水平映射规则内隐学习的限制

先前研究发现远距离规则能够被内隐地习得和迁移,表明内隐学习获得的知识是底层的抽象规则,那么这一抽象规则的习得和迁移是否会受到先前知识经验的限制?研究采用汉语声调的远距离水平映射规则为材料,通过创设不符合平仄知识经验的任意声调水平映射规则,在控制组块和重复结构等表面特征的条件下,探讨先前知识经验是否限制了远距离水平映射规则的内隐学习和迁移。结果发现相对于符合平仄知识经验的汉语声调水平映射规则,被试不能够内隐地习得和迁移任意声调的水平映射规则,表明先前知识经验在远距离水平映射规则内隐学习过程中发挥着重要作用。     

What is learned about fragments in artificial grammar learning? A transitional probabilities approach

Learning local regularities in sequentially structured materials is typically assumed to be based on encoding of the frequencies of these regularities. We explore the view that transitional probabilities between elements of chunks, rather than frequencies of chunks, may be the primary factor in artificial grammar learning (AGL). The transitional probability model (TPM) that we propose is argued to provide an adaptive and parsimonious strategy for encoding local regularities in order to induce sequential structure from an input set of exemplars of the grammar. In a variant of the AGL procedure, in which participants estimated the frequencies of bigrams occurring in a set of exemplars they had been exposed to previously, participants were shown to be more sensitive to local transitional probability information than to mere pattern frequencies.     

Measuring strategic control in artificial grammar learning

In response to concerns with existing procedures for measuring strategic control over implicit knowledge in artificial grammar learning (AGL), we introduce a more stringent measurement procedure. After two separate training blocks which each consisted of letter strings derived from a different grammar, participants either judged the grammaticality of novel letter strings with respect to only one of these two grammars (pure-block condition), or had the target grammar varying randomly from trial to trial (novel mixed-block condition) which required a higher degree of conscious flexible control. Random variation in the colour and font of letters was introduced to disguise the nature of the rule and reduce explicit learning. Strategic control was observed both in the pure-block and mixed-block conditions, and even among participants who did not realise the rule was based on letter identity. This indicated detailed strategic control in the absence of explicit learning.     

Abstractionist and processing accounts of implicit learning

Five experiments evaluated the contributions of rule, exemplar, fragment, and episodic knowledge in artificial grammar learning using memorization versus hypothesis-testing training tasks. Strings of letters were generated from a biconditional grammar that allows different sources of responding to be unconfounded. There was no evidence that memorization led to passive abstraction of rules or encoding of whole training exemplars. Memorizers instead used explicit fragment knowledge to identify the grammatical status of test items, although this led to chance performance. Successful hypothesis-testers classified at near-perfect levels by processing training and test stimuli according to their rule structure. The results support the episodic-processing account of implicit and explicit learning.     

Intentional artificial grammar learning: When does it work?

Actively searching for the rules of an artificial grammar has often been shown to produce no more knowledge than memorising exemplars without knowing that they have been generated by a grammar. The present study investigated whether this ineffectiveness of intentional learning could be overcome by removing dual task demands and providing participants with more specific instructions. The results only showed a positive effect of learning intentionally for participants specifically instructed to find out which letters are allowed to follow each other. These participants were also unaffected by a salient feature. In contrast, for participants who did not know what kind of structure to expect, intentional learning was not more effective than incidental learning and knowledge acquisition was guided by salience.     

Visual statistical learning produces implicit and explicit knowledge about temporal order information and scene chunks: Evidence from direct and indirect measures

We examined whether visual statistical learning (VSL) produced implicit and/or explicit knowledge about temporal order information and scene chunks, using a rapid serial visual presentation target detection task and a two-alternative forced-choice (2AFC) familiarity test as indirect and direct measures of VSL, respectively. In the familiarization phase, participants viewed a visual stream of natural scenes consisting of four triplets (i.e., three images that always appeared in the same order). In the subsequent target detection task, participants were required to detect target items embedded in a stream of 12 images or 12 words representing each natural scene. In the final 2AFC familiarity test, participants observed two test sequences (statistically related triplets vs. unrelated foils) and decided whether the first or second sequence was more familiar based on the familiarization phase. In both test phases, we included the same (forward) and reverse (backward) order of scenes as presented during the familiarization phase to examine whether the expression of VSL was based on temporal order of scenes or scene chunks. The results of the target detection task showed a learning effect for both temporal order in the forward condition and chunks in the backward condition, irrespective of whether stimuli were images or words; in contrast, we did not observe a learning effect in the backward condition for scene images in the familiarity test. Our findings are compatible with a learning mechanism that has both implicit and explicit components based on temporal order information and scene chunks.     

直觉对内隐学习优势效应的特异性贡献

已有人工语法的内隐学习研究中一个关键的问题是被试在不同指导语诱发下究竟形成了什么样的知识表征？实验借助结构知识的测量方式, 采用记忆和规则探索两种指导语, 考察了两组被试所获得的深层知识表征(结构知识)。结果发现：(1)在记忆指导语条件下, 被试获得了语法规则; (2)直觉在记忆指导语条件下贡献突出, 表现出特异性。该结果表明记忆指导语引发了被试基于直觉区分人工语法规则的内隐学习优势效应。     

The influence of intentional versus incidental retrieval practices on the role of recollection in test-enhanced learning

A testing effect occurs when taking a test leads to more durable memory for tested materials, relative to restudying them during the same period of time. In the current study, we examined whether incidental and intentional restudy/testing practice modes during a practice phase would modulate the contribution of recollection-based and familiarity-based retrieval in a final recognition test. Both practice strategy (restudy versus testing) and practice mode (incidental vs. intentional) were manipulated between participants (N = 160). The restudy and testing groups performed a semantic rating task and a word fragment completion task, respectively, in the incidental condition or in the intentional condition. Only those participants in the intentional condition were instructed to recall or restudy the targets. All participants went through two study–practice cycles that involved two different sets of targets. After the second cycle, participants performed a list-discrimination recognition test that could assess the contributions of recollection-based and familiarity-based retrieval on test-enhanced learning. The testing effect occurred in the intentional condition, but not in the incidental condition. Relative to intentional restudy, intentional testing boosted recollection, but not familiarity, demonstrating the role of recollection in test-enhanced learning.     

The Role of Simple Semantics in the Process of Artificial Grammar Learning

This study investigated the effect of semantic information on artificial grammar learning (AGL). Recursive grammars of different complexity levels (regular language, mirror language, copy language) were investigated in a series of AGL experiments. In the with-semantics condition, participants acquired semantic information prior to the AGL experiment; in the without-semantics control condition, participants did not receive semantic information. It was hypothesized that semantics would generally facilitate grammar acquisition and that the learning benefit in the with-semantics conditions would increase with increasing grammar complexity. Experiment 1 showed learning effects for all grammars but no performance difference between conditions. Experiment 2 replicated the absence of a semantic benefit for all grammars even though semantic information was more prominent during grammar acquisition as compared to Experiment 1. Thus, we did not find evidence for the idea that semantics facilitates grammar acquisition, which seems to support the view of an independent syntactic processing component.     

汉语声调远距离规则的内隐学习及其迁移效应

内隐学习研究领域的一个重要问题是内隐学习获得的知识究竟是什么,即内隐学习获得的知识究竟是底层的抽象规则还是表面的特征.研究以汉语声调的远距离水平映射这一远距离规则为材料,通过对表面特征和底层规则之间的分离操作,在控制组块和重复结构等表面特征的条件下,探讨声调远距离规则的习得和迁移,结果发现被试能够内隐地习得和迁移汉语平仄声调的水平映射规则,证实了内隐学习确实能够获得底层的抽象规则,为内隐学习的抽象性问题提供了新的证据.     

Implicit learning of complex information in amnesia

Implicit learning abilities of nine amnesic patients were explored by using an artificial grammar learning task in which the test strings were constructed in such a way that grammaticality judgments could not be based on a simple knowledge of bigrams and trigrams (chunks). Results show that amnesic patients and controls performed at the same level during the classification task, whereas amnesic patients performed worse than controls in an explicit generation task. Moreover, there was no correlation between the implicit and explicit measures. These results are compatible with the existence of two kinds of representation intervening in artificial grammar learning. The first one based on processes leading to fragment-specific knowledge (the chunks, which can be accessed explicitly), and the second based on the learning of simple associations and more complex conditional relations between elements.     

Completely ruled out? Using response time data to investigate biconditional artificial grammar learning

Two experiments are reported on incidental learning using a biconditional artificial grammar (based on Johnstone & Shanks, 2001). Phonological repetition of rule-related letters was encouraged by requiring participants to write down and rehearse each training exemplar aloud for several seconds (Experiment 1). A cover story was introduced emphasising the relatedness of the two halves of each exemplar but without mentioning the rules (Experiment 2). Participants had no explicit knowledge of the rules and grammaticality classification was mostly at chance. Confidence judgements (Experiment 2) did not distinguish between numbers of correct and incorrect responses. The important finding was that response times were faster for grammatical than ungrammatical test exemplars. Results are discussed with reference to phonological phrasing, fluency, and competition between controlled and automatic processes.     

选择性注意对听觉内隐学习的影响

内隐学习被认为是人类无意识、无目的获得复杂规则的自动化过程。已有研究表明, 在人工语法学习范式下, 视觉内隐学习的发生需要选择性注意。为了考察选择性注意对内隐学习的影响是否具有通道特异性, 本研究以90名大学生为被试, 以人工语法为学习任务, 采用双耳分听技术, 在听觉通道同时呈现具有不同规则的字母序列和数字序列, 考查被试在听觉刺激下对注意序列和未注意序列构成规则的习得情况。结果发现：只有选择注意的序列规则被习得, 未选择注意的序列规则未能被习得。研究表明：在人工语法学习范式下, 只有选择注意的刺激维度能够发生内隐学习。选择性注意对内隐学习的影响具有跨通道的适用性, 不仅适用于视觉刺激, 也同样适用于听觉刺激。     

The influence of intentional and incidental learning on acquiring spatial knowledge during navigation

In order to study the influence of intentional and incidental learning conditions on route learning, young adults walked a route through a university building. Half of the participants focused their attention on the route (intentional learning condition), while the other half did not (incidental learning condition). Five tests of spatial knowledge were employed: a route-length-estimation, landmark recognition, landmark ordering, map-drawing and navigation task. The intentional group performed better than the incidental group on the map-drawing and navigation task. No difference between the intentional and incidental group was found on the landmark-recognition and landmark-ordering task. Moreover, the intentional group overestimated the walking distance, while the incidental group underestimated it. These results suggest that route knowledge (landmark recognition and landmark ordering) requires less effortful processing than survey knowledge (developing a map-like representation and actual navigation).     

Kompositionsbildung bei Symbolfolgen und Bediensequenzen: Empirische Befunde und die Theorie des „Competitive Chunking”

In the paradigm of artificial grammar learning subjects have to reproduce regularly structured sequences of symbols. In a subsequent and unexpected test, they have to discriminate sequences that correspond to those of thememorization task from sequences that do not. Discriminability of grammatical and nongrammatical strings is judged as evidence for unconscious learning. This effect has been explained by the creation of chunks: Memorization of strings is facilitated by composing elements to chunks. The hierarchical organization of these units allows the representation of grammatical strings by a few high level chunks. The fewer chunks are necessary to represent a given string the higher is its familiarity and the probability to be judged grammatical. For the incidental acquisition of knowledge about operating a device the creation of chunks could also be shown. In contrast to letter series, two peculiarities were found: (a) discriminability was rather low, (b) irregularities at the end of input sequences were most effective. These peculiarities dissappeared, if — similar to letter strings — the information about a single operation of a sequence was permanently available. In the present simulations it was investigated whether these effects are consistent with the theory of competitive chunking. The temporal grain within sequences was varied to investigate the impact of the availability of sequential information on discriminability. Three different modes of chunk creation were simulated in the test phase to investigate whether the creation of chunks is obligatory for perceptual integration or requires a memorization task. The variation of temporal grain had only a marginal impact on discriminability. The simulation of the empirical data required that grammatical chunks are created within the test phase. Implications of these findings are discussed.     

关于人工语法学习迁移效应的一项实验研究

本研究探讨了人工语法迁移效应产生的机制,着重考查了组块信息迁移理论对人工语法迁移效应机制解释的适宜性。结果发现：当学习和测验序列的表层结构不同时,被试能够学习和迁移非重复成分间的序列依存性(实验一);当被试将非重复成分间的序列依存性迁移到表层结构不同的测验序列中时,需要在学习和测验序列的分布特征上形成一种匹配(实验二)。