The nature of learned categorical perception effects: a psychophysical approach

Categorical perception is often cited as a striking example of cognitive influences on perception. However, some evidence suggests the term is a misnomer, with effects based on cognitive not perceptual processing. Here, using a psychophysical approach, we provide evidence consistent with a learned categorical perception effect that is dependent on analysis within the visual processing stream. An improvement in participants' discrimination between grating patterns that they had learned to place in different categories was 'tuned' around the orientation of the patterns experienced during category learning. Thus, here, categorical perception may result from attentionally modulated perceptual learning about diagnostic category features, based upon orientation-selective stages of analysis. This argues strongly that category learning can alter our perception of the world.     

词的具体性对词汇识别的影响

采用词汇判断法、命名法两种方法考察词的具体性特征对词汇识别的影响。结果表明：（１）两种任务中都存在着词的具体性效应;（２）词的具体性效应只表现在高频词中。作者给出了可能的解释并认为词汇识别中形、音、义的加工存在着交互作用。     

Investigating Behavioral Dynamics With A Fixed-time Extinction Schedule And Linear Analysis

This paper describes the behavioral adaptation observed for 16 pigeons responding to a step transition in the reinforcement rate in a repeated-trial design. Within each trial, following exposure for a fixed period to a variable-interval schedule, there was an unsignaled change in the schedule to extinction. The step transition allowed an experimental test of the applicability of a linear analysis to steady-state dynamic behavior. The computations required for this test yielded, as an intermediate result, transfer functions for each of the 16 birds from 1 mHz to 256 mHz. The transfer functions obtained show greater responsiveness to lower frequencies (i.e., longer time-scale structures in the reinforcement schedule); hence, the pigeons have the characteristics of a low-pass filter. The outcome of the test is that some predictability of the pigeons' future behavior is possible.     

汉字词的正字法深度与阅读时间的研究

采用命名任务探讨了正字法深度对汉字词读音时间的影响。结果发现,（１）正字法深度对汉字词的读音时间有重要影响。对于高频字,汉字的读音反应时的顺序（由快到慢）是规则形声字、象形字、会意字和不规则形声字,但规则形声字、象形字、会意字之间的差异没有达到显著水平,只有规则形声字与不规则形声字之间差异显著。但在低频时,规则形声字与会意字、不规则的形声字,象形字与不规则的形声字的读音反应时的差异均达到显著水平。（２）与单音词相比,多音词的反应时间长,多音词的优势反应与非优势反应的读音时间也存在着显著的差异。（３）高频时,多音双字词与单音双字词差异不显著,低频时双音双字词与单音双字词差异显著,从而显示了语境与词频的双重影响。整个研究表明,对于表意的汉字而言,正字法深度也是存在的,并对汉字词的读音时间产生重要的影响。     

Visual search at different spatial scales

Treisman and Gelade's (1980) feature-integration model claims that the search for separate ("primitive") stimulus features is parallel, but that the conjunctions of those features require serial scan. Recently, evidence has accumulated that parallel processing is not limited to these "primitive" stimulus features, but that combinations of features can also produce parallel search. In the experiments reported here, the processing of feature conjunctions was studied when the stimulus features of a combination were at different spatial scales. The patterns in the search array were composed of three cross-shaped or T-shaped (local) elements, which formed an oblique bar (the global pattern) 45 deg or 135 deg in orientation. When the target and distractors differed from each other at one spatial scale only (either in the bar orientation or in the shape of the local elements), target detection was independent of the number of distractors, i.e., the search was parallel. In the conjunction task, in which the target and distractors were defined as the combinations of the bar orientation and the element shape, i.e., both spatial scales were relevant, the detection of the target required slow serial scrutiny of the search array. It is possible that the conjunction search could not be performed in parallel because switches between the two scales (or spatial frequency channels) are linked to attention and the task required the use of both scales in order to find the target.     

The effects of reinforcement frequency and response requirements on the maintenance of behavior.

Six rats responded under fixed-interval and tandem fixed-interval fixed-ratio schedules of food reinforcement. Basic fixed-interval schedules alternated over experimental conditions with tandem fixed-interval fixed-ratio schedules with the same fixed-interval value. Fixed-interval length was varied within subjects over pairs of experimental conditions; the ratio requirement of the tandem schedules was varied across subjects. For both subjects with a ratio requirement of 10, overall response rates and running response rates typically were higher under the tandem schedules than under the corresponding basic fixed-interval schedules. For all subjects with ratio requirements of 30 or 60, overall response rates and running response rates were higher under the tandem schedules than under the corresponding basic fixed-interval schedules only with relatively short fixed intervals. At longer fixed intervals, higher overall response rates and running rates were maintained by the basic fixed-interval schedules than by the tandem schedules. These findings support Zeiler and Buchman's (1979) reinforcement-theory account of response strength as an increasing monotonic function of both the response requirement and reinforcement frequency. Small response requirements added in tandem to fixed-interval schedules have little effect on reinforcement frequency and so their net effect is to enhance responding. Larger response requirements reduce reinforcement frequency more substantially; therefore their net effect depends on the length of the fixed interval, which limits overall reinforcement frequency. At the longest fixed intervals studied in the present experiment, reinforcement frequency under the tandem schedules was sufficiently low that responding weakened or ceased altogether.     

The roles of stimulus control and reinforcement frequency in modulating the behavioral effects of d-amphetamine in the rat.

The behavioral effects of d-amphetamine have been shown to be modulated by stimulus control, with less impairment of performance occurring when control is great. When the fixed-consecutive-number schedule is used (on which at least a specified consecutive number of responses must be made on one operandum before a single response on another will produce a reinforcer), response rate tends to be invariant but reinforcement frequency is not. This study asks whether the differences in reinforcement frequency that usually accompany changes in stimulus control could themselves be responsible for the performance differences. Two versions of the fixed-consecutive-number schedule of reinforcement were combined into a multiple schedule within which stimulus control was varied but differences in reinforcement frequency were minimized by omitting some reinforcer deliveries during the component that usually had the higher reinforcement frequency. In one component, a compound discriminative stimulus was added with the eighth consecutive response on the first lever; a single response on the second lever was then reinforced. In the other component, no such stimulus was presented. With no added stimulus, large decreases occurred in the number of runs satisfying the minimum requirement for reinforcement at doses of drug that produced only minimal changes when an added stimulus controlled behavior. Thus, increased stimulus control diminishes the behavioral changes produced by d-amphetamine even when the possible contribution by baseline reinforcement rate is minimized.     

内隐序列学习表征方式的实验研究

采用Lewicki等人创造的“矩阵扫描”任务,对内隐序列学习的表征方式进行了研究。结果发现：规则试验的反应时显著低于随机试验,说明被试能够内隐地掌握复杂规则,没有证据表明这与“运动”频率的大小和序列样例的记忆有关;此外,序列结构也是影响内隐序列学习的因素之一。     

声旁规则性对命名声旁和整字的影响

探讨声旁规则性对命名声旁或整字的影响,在速示与慢示呈现条件下命名声旁或汉字。结果发现：（1）声旁命名在速示呈现时因规则声旁易化;慢示呈现时无显著规则性效应,但受声旁部件数影响;（2）在两种呈现条件下,命名含不表音声旁字的反应时最快,错误率最低;命名含单部件、高频声旁字的反应时慢,错误率高;命名含多部件、低频声旁字的反应时快,错误率低。说明是声旁规则性对声旁命名有易化作用;对整字命名有干扰作用,但与声旁频率与部件数有关。     

Myopic loss aversion: Demystifying the key factors influencing decision problem framing

Advancement of myopic loss aversion theory has been hamstrung by conflicting results, methodological inconsistencies, and a piecemeal approach toward understanding the key factors influencing decision problem framing. A series of controlled experiments provides a more holistic view of the variables promoting myopia. Extending the information horizon promotes broad framing, which propels risk. Evaluation frequency and decision frequency interact regardless of information horizon, supporting the notion that restricting either mechanism alleviates myopia. When conducting evaluations infrequently, neither segregating nor aggregating retrospective returns significantly alters risk preferences. Moreover, students and real retirement plan participants exhibit comparable appetites for risk, implying that both groups frame decision problems similarly. Explanations for these findings and avenues for future research are discussed.