Sequence effects in the categorization of tones varying in frequency.
In contrast to exemplar and decision-bound categorization models, the memory and contrast models described here do not assume that long-term representations of stimulus magnitudes are available. Instead, stimuli are assumed to be categorized using only their differences from a few recent stimuli. To test this alternative, the authors examined sequential effects in a binary categorization of 10 tones varying in frequency. Stimuli up to 2 trials back in the sequence had a significant effect on the response to the current stimulus. The effects of previous stimuli interacted with one another. A memory and contrast model, according to which only ordinal information about the differences between the current stimulus and recent preceding stimuli is used, best accounted for these data.
Stewart
Neil
N
Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom. neil.stewart@warwick.ac.uk
Brown
Gordon D A
GD
D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception; D011939:Mental Recall; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010897:Pitch Discrimination; D011337:Probability Learning; D011571:Psychoacoustics; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012691:Serial Learning; D013018:Sound Spectrography