Stimulus correlates of tachistoscopic discrimination-recognition performance: Compactness,jaggedness, and areal asymmetry

The utility of three physical dimensions (compactness, jaggedness, and areal asymmetry) of four-sided random forms on discrimination-recognition performance was examined. Six experimental conditions were defined by constructing discrimination-recognition problems wherein forms were paired on the basis of a high or low value on each of the three physical dimensions. Twenty-six Ss were randomly assigned to each experimental condition and were tested on five problems, four times at each of five single form duration times. Each problem presentation consisted of selecting which of two forms had been previously exposed at the selected duration. Analyses of the number of correct responses indicated support for the existence of a selective attention process and the utility of the compactness physical dimension.