Perceptual isolation effects: Short-term visual storage vs cognitive-perceptual structure

Two hypotheses concerning the effects of perceptual isolation were examined. Three experimental groups were defined by the interval between the first and second stimulus presentations within a recognition-discrimination problem. Ninety Ss were exposed to 12 recognition-discrimination problems for each of three physical dimensions of random forms, both before and after 1/2 h of perceptual isolation. Analyses of the number of correct responses indicated support for the hypothesis that isolation increases the duration of the short-term visual storage, but not for the hypothesis that isolation produces change in the hierarchy of physical dimensions to which Ss selectively attend.