The effect of spatial frequency information and visual similarity in threat detection

In the current research, we sought to examine the role of spatial frequency on the detection of threat using a speeded visual search paradigm. Participants searched for threat-relevant (snakes or spiders) or non-threat-relevant (frogs or cockroaches) targets in an array of neutral (flowers or mushrooms) distracters, and we measured search performance with images filtered to contain different levels (high and low) of spatial frequency information. The results replicate previous work demonstrating more rapid detection of threatening versus non-threatening stimuli [e.g. LoBue, V. & DeLoache, J. S. (2008). Detecting the snake in the grass: Attention to fear-relevant stimuli by adults and young children. Psychological Science, 19, 284–289. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02081.x]. Most importantly, the results suggest that low spatial frequency or relatively coarse levels of visual information is sufficient for the rapid and accurate detection of threatening stimuli. Furthermore, the results also suggest that visual similarity between the stimuli used in the search tasks plays a significant role in speeded detection. The results are discussed in terms of the theoretical implications for the rapid detection of threat and methodological implications for properly accounting for similarity between the stimuli in visual search studies.     

An attention account of neural priming

Repetition priming of familiar stimuli (e.g., objects) produces a decrease in visual cortical activity for repeated versus novel items, which has been attributed to more fluent processing for repeated items. By contrast, priming of unfamiliar stimuli (e.g., abstract shapes) produces an increase in visual cortical activity. The mechanism for priming-related increases in activity for repeated unfamiliar stimuli is unknown. We hypothesised that such increases in activity may reflect attentional allocation to these items. We tested this hypothesis using a priming-spatial attention paradigm. During Phase 1 of Experiment 1, participants viewed unfamiliar abstract shapes and familiar objects. During Phase 2, participants identified target letters (S or H). Each target letter was preceded by a non-informative shape or object cue that was repeated (from Phase 1) or novel in the same (valid) or opposite (invalid) hemifield. In Experiment 2, we manipulated shape familiarity by presenting shapes once or six times during Phase 1. For both experiments, at valid locations, target identification accuracy was higher following repeated versus novel unfamiliar item cues and lower following repeated versus novel familiar item cues. These findings support our hypothesis that priming-related increases in visual cortical activity for repeated unfamiliar items may, in part, reflect attentional allocation.     

盲人建构陌生环境空间表征的策略及其作用

空间表征对于盲人定向行走具有重要意义。以往研究者集中探讨早期视觉经验缺失对于盲人空间表征的影响, 较少探究空间表征建构的过程性因素, 即探路策略对于盲人空间表征的影响。本研究采用现场实验的方法探究了盲人建构陌生环境空间表征采用的策略及其作用。结果发现：视觉经验缺失对盲人陌生环境空间表征能力造成了不利影响, 然而, 被试运用有效的策略可以弥补视觉缺失带来的损失, 且利用空间关系策略的个体所建构的空间表征更为精确, 定向行走效率也更高。     

空间工作记忆负载对真实场景情境提示效应的影响

重复的画面布局能够促进观察者对目标项的搜索 (情境提示效应)。本研究采用双任务范式,分别在视觉搜索任务的学习阶段 (实验2a) 和测验阶段 (实验2b) 加入空间工作记忆任务, 并与单任务基线 (实验1)进行比较, 考察空间工作记忆负载对真实场景搜索中情境线索学习和情境提示效应表达的影响。结果发现: 空间负载会增大学习阶段的情境提示效应量, 同时削弱测验阶段的情境提示效应量, 而不影响情境线索的外显提取。由此可见, 真实场景中情境线索的学习和提示效应的表达均会受到有限的工作记忆资源的影响, 但情境线索提取的外显性不变。     

角色目标对空间维度非线索更新的影响

采用实时窗口阅读技术,探讨文本阅读中角色目标在情境模型空间维度非线索更新中的作用。实验一结果表明,阅读中。如果文本叙述中的角色在一个目标指引下展开活动．那么可以促进相应空间设置内的物体的更新。实验二考察了不同性质的角色目标在空问信息加工中的作用,结果发现,相对于已经达成的目标,未达成的目标对情境模型空间维度非线索更新的影响更大。     

心理旋转研究的新进展

心理旋转是一种空间表征转换形式,也是认知心理学家关注的热点问题。文章结合实证研究,分析了心理旋转加工的大脑机能一侧化问题,阐释了心理旋转能力的个体差异性,探讨了基于心理旋转能力可塑性的提高空问智能的有效途径。并在此基础上．对未来心理旋转领域的研究加以展望。     

Visuo‐spatial play experience: forerunner of visuo‐spatial achievement in preadolescent and adolescent boys and girls?

This cross‐sectional study explored whether participation, from early childhood, in play involving different cognitive abilities predicts visuo‐spatial achievement at ages 9, 12, and 15. Based on parental assessment, prior and present practice of spatial manipulation play was found to be consistently more frequent in boys than in girls; the reverse held true for verbal expression play. Whereas boys did not significantly outperform girls in three visuo‐spatial tasks, girls were superior on a contrastive vocabulary task. In general, with IQ statistically controlled, regression analyses showed that estimated past and present spatial manipulation play predicted both genders' proficiency in the water‐level task and Embedded Figures Test, as did mothers' socioeconomic status for Block Design performance. Contrastingly, a negative relation was established between spatial manipulation play and vocabulary scores. Similar to the activity‐ability association often identified among adults, the relation established here between spatial play experience and visuo‐spatial ability was only modest. Further research should aim at more definitive conclusions through augmenting both diversity in the visuo‐spatial skills measured and sophistication in play behaviour appraisal. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

注视-西蒙效应的空间编码机制

采用注视-西蒙范式探讨了注视方向知觉的空间编码机制。实验一让被试采用双手交叉的反应方式,发现注视-西蒙效应并不随反应手的交叉而反转,说明它涉及抽象的空间方向编码,而非基于以手为参照系的半侧优势效应。实验二采用纯音音调辨别任务,发现了典型的注视-西蒙效应,结合实验一视觉通道的结果,说明注视-西蒙效应并非特异于视觉通道,它可能发生在晚期的反应选择阶段,而非早期的知觉阶段。结果支持注视线索能够自动诱发观察者形成抽象的方向表征的观点。     

颜色词与颜色认知的关系——基于民族心理学的研究视角

颜色词与颜色认知的关系是语言影响认知的重要领域.不同民族之间存在着语言和文化的差异.对于颜色词与颜色认知的关系,一直就存在着普遍进化理论和语言相对论的争论.既往研究通过哲学思辨、命名和计算、颜色分类、颜色记忆和颜色搜索等多种范式对颜色词与颜色认知的关系进行了卓有成效的探讨,使该领域的研究呈现出蓬勃发展的局面.     

路标信息在幼儿空间再定向中的作用

以往研究表明幼儿不能有效地整合利用路标等非几何信息,主要依赖几何信息进行再定向。即使能利用路标信息,也只是建立了靶物体与路标之间的直接联结,而不是用于空间再定向。本研究在矩形房间的四角设置颜色不同的档板作为路标线索,以平均年龄为3.5岁的幼儿为被试,结果发现,在几何信息与路标信息同时存在的情形下,幼儿可以整合利用空间中的几何信息与路标信息;即使只有路标信息,幼儿也能依赖路标信息结合左右方位感准确地再定向,这些结果表明幼儿能够充分利用空间中的路标信息以重新确定自己的方位。