Continuity effects with alternately sounding tones under dichotic presentation

An experiment is reported in which 10 Ss possessing normal hearing were required to make discriminations of continuity or interruption in a longer less intense signal (Tone A) which alternated in time with a shorter more intense signal (Tone B). The signals were presented dichotically with Tone A at the right ear. Three Tone B frequencies of 300, 1000, and 4000 cps and five Tone A frequencies somewhat near each of the Tone B frequencies were employed. The results demonstrated that as Tone A was nearer to Tone B in frequency, continuity thresholds in Tone A occurred at longer durations of Tone B. The results are discussed in terms of a central neural model.     

Some observations and measurements of the Pulfrich phenomenon

The Pulfrich pendulum was evaluated as a potential screening device for the detection of anomalies of binocular vision. For this purpose, a booth was set up at the Kentucky State Fair (1964) and the general public invited to observe the pendulum and record their responses with the equipment provided. The obtained results indicate that a dichotomy can be achieved between those who have binocular vision and those who do not. However, gradations of binocular vision from poor to good cannot be achieved with the pendulum as presently understood. Contrary to explanatory theory the characteristic shape of the seen pendulum path was asymmetrical following the rule that the path was displaced away from the observer on the side of the filtered eye.     

The effect of pattern and texture gradient on slant and shape judgments

The experiment reported was designed to explore the relationship between gradient of texture and monocular slantshape perception. The effects of instructional set and order of slant and shape judgments were studied in interaction with four patterns differing in regularity of texture. Judgments of slant and shape were made by the same Ss for all patterns at 20°, 45°, 60°slant for slant judgments and 0°, 20°, 45°, 60° for width judgments. There were three instructional groups. Within each group one half of the Ss made slant judgments first, the other half shape judgments first. For all patterns, accurate perception of the slant of patterned material resulted in increased compensation in width judgments. Apparent width was found to be a function of pattern and also subject to instructional manipulation.     

The effect of encoding training on perceptual recall

The effect of encoding training on tachistoscopic performance was measured by training groups of Ss in either an octal or a standardized English encoding of nine place binary numbers. A control group of Ss was allowed to encode ad lib during an equivalent training period. Performance was measured before, during and after the encoding training. It was found that imposing a code on S impaired tachistoscopic performance both during and for some time after the encoding training. Possible reasons for this effect are discussed.