Recency effects as a window to generalization: separating decisional and perceptual sequential effects in category learning.
Accounts of learning and generalization typically focus on factors related to lasting changes in representation (i.e., long-term memory). The authors present evidence that shorter term effects also play a critical role in determining performance and that these recency effects can be subdivided into perceptual and decisional components. Experimental results based on a probabilistic category structure show that the previous stimulus exerts a contrastive effect on the current percept (perceptual recency) and that responses are biased toward or away from the previous feedback, depending on the similarity between successive stimuli (decisional recency). A method for assessing these recency effects is presented that clarifies open questions regarding stimulus generalization and perceptual contrast effects in categorization and in other domains.
Department of PsychologyUniversity of Texas, Austin, TX, USA. mattj@psy.utexas.edu
Matt
M
Jones
Bradley C
BC
Love
W Todd
WT
Maddox
D001288:Attention; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D005793:Generalization, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011581:Psychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data