The invariance of asymmetric cross-modal transfer effects

Cross-modal transfer as a function of the amount of first modality training was investigated in two experiments. Subjects learned to associate numbers with three-dimensional objects which were presented either visually or tactually. After training in one of the modalities, the transfer was tested in the other modality. In the first experiment the transfer was tested after different number of trials of training and in the second experiment it was tested after different levels of overlearning. Transfer in the tactual-visual order was superior to transfer in the visual-tactual order in all training conditions, and the magnitude of the effect was the same. The results suggest that learning factors such as amount of training are of minor importance as causes to the asymmetry between these modalities and that it may be more fruitful to concentrate on perceptual factors.