title: Memory for, and salience of, the unique features of similar stimuli in perceptual learning.
abstract: In two experiments, participants received exposure to complex checkerboards (e.g., AX and BX) that consisted of small distinctive features (A and B) superimposed on a larger common background (X). Subsequent discrimination between AX and BX, assessed by a same-different task, was facilitated when the stimuli were presented on alternate trials in preexposure--a perceptual learning effect (Experiment 1). The hypothesis that this form of exposure results in more accurate representations of the unique features was supported in Experiment 1, which showed that participants were well able to match the color of the feature with its shape. Experiment 2 showed that exposure to A and B in isolation, intermixed with presentations of AX and BX, enhanced the perceptual learning effect, which confirmed that the better encoding of the unique features during intermixed preexposure is a direct cause of the enhanced discrimination observed following preexposure on this schedule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of York, York YO105DD, United Kingdom. y.lavis@psych.york.ac.uk
authors.forename: Yvonna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lavis
authors.forename: Raja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kadib
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*