A Cartesian reflex assessment of face processing.
Commands to blink were embedded within pictures of faces and simple geometric shapes or forms. The faces and shapes were conditioned stimuli (CSs), and the required responses were conditioned responses, or more properly, Cartesian reflexes (CRs). As in classical conditioning protocols, response times (RTs) were measured from CS onset. RTs provided a measure of the processing cost (PC) of attending to a CS. A PC is the extra time required to respond relative to RTs to unconditioned stimulus (US) commands presented alone. They reflect the interplay between attentional processing of the informational content of a CS and its signaling function with respect to the US command. This resulted in longer RTs to embedded commands. Differences between PCs of faces and geometric shapes represent a starting place for a new mental chronometry based on the traditional idea that differences in RT reflect differences in information processing.
Polewan
Robert J
RJ
University of Massachusetts Amherst, 01003, USA.
Vigorito
Christopher M
CM
Nason
Christopher D
CD
Block
Richard A
RA
Moore
John W
JW
D000328:Adult; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D003215:Conditioning, Eyelid / Q000502:physiology*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D010470:Perceptual Masking / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D012033:Refractory Period, Psychological / Q000502:physiology