The processing of constituent characters in Kanji words in proofreading Japanese sentences

In two proofreading experiments the processing of constituent characters in Japanese words was studied. In Experiment 1, the subjects were asked to detect misspellings on a CRT displaying a character, a word, a phrase, or a full sentence at a time. In Experiment 2, a comprehension task was added to make sure that the subjects read sentences in left-to right fashion with comprehension. Both experiments showed consistent results. The manipulation of visual similarity between misspelled and correct characters revealed that misspellings having supraletter features nearly identical to the correct characters received lower detection rates, and that the subjects utilized word-level information when proofreading. The disruptive effect on character processing in reading a sentence that was expected from the unitization hypothesis (Healy & Drewnowski, 1983) was not found. The constituent-level units in Japanese words are considered to be functionally equivalent to word-level units, instead of constituting a hierarchy.Part of this research was presented at the Second International Conference on Visual Search, Durham, U.K., September 1990     

Effects of laterality and pitch height of an auditory accessory stimulus on horizontal response selection: The Simon effect and the SMARC effect

In the present article, we investigated the effects of pitch height and the presented ear (laterality) of an auditory stimulus, irrelevant to the ongoing visual task, on horizontal response selection. Performance was better when the response and the stimulated ear spatially corresponded (Simon effect), and when the spatial—musical association of response codes (SMARC) correspondence was maintained—that is, right (left) response with a high-pitched (low-pitched) tone. These findings reveal an automatic activation of spatially and musically associated responses by task-irrelevant auditory accessory stimuli. Pitch height is strong enough to influence the horizontal responses despite modality differences with task target.     

认知任务对直立姿势的视觉控制的影响

为揭示认知任务对直立姿势的视觉控制的影响, 本研究采用双重任务的方法, 要求18名健康的成年被试在4种条件(2认知条件×2视觉条件)下尽力保持直立姿势的稳定。姿势动摇的测量采用头顶拍摄的方法并计算误差均方根、平均速度以及Romberg商数。研究结果显示认知任务和视觉条件之间的交互作用显著, 而且当有认知任务时姿势动摇的Romberg商数显著降低。这些结果说明认知任务抑制了直立姿势控制过程中的视觉加工。     

To see dynamic change: continuous focused attention facilitates change detection,but the effect persists briefly

What is the role of continuously focused attention on an object in change detection? To ensure focused attention on one object, we conducted a single object change detection task, manipulating an object’s location between pre-change and post-change displays (same or different location), and also manipulating a blank duration (the FOD task) and a pre-change object presentation duration (the FBD task). If attention is continuously focused at the spatial location of the pre-change object, a location shift of the post-change object should interrupt change detection due to a cognitive cost of attentional shift. Results suggest attention is focused continuously for a brief blank duration, and attention can facilitate the detection of change occurring at the location of attentional focus. Additionally, although attention is focused continuously for a long time if a target is visible, the effect of attention declines with time. The results clarify the new temporal characteristics of focused attention.     

Attentional awakening: gradual modulation of temporal attention in rapid serial visual presentation

Orienting attention to a point in time facilitates processing of an item within rapidly changing surroundings. We used a one-target RSVP task to look for differences in accuracy in reporting a target related to when the target temporally appeared in the sequence. The results show that observers correctly report a target early in the sequence less frequently than later in the sequence. Previous RSVP studies predicted equivalently accurate performances for one target wherever it appeared in the sequence. We named this new phenomenon attentional awakening, which reflects a gradual modulation of temporal attention in a rapid sequence. This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science awarded to Kazuhiko Yokosawa.     

Binocular rivalry alternation rate declines with age

The effect of aging on the time of spontaneous perceptual alternation in binocular rivalry was examined in 59 subjects. An earlier study reported the change of alternation time by comparing middle-age and elderly subjects. We also observed age-related prolongation in alternation time by comparing subjects in a lower age group (20-34 years) with those in both a middle-age group (35-49 years) and a higher age group (50-64 years). Aging of visual optical functions such as presbyopia or the reduction of contrast sensitivity has an accelerating effect over age and may not be related to the age-associated monotonic prolongation of alternation time in binocular rivalry. The origin of aging in binocular rivalry is still unclear but a neural interval generator for perceptual switching is suggested.