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Good vibrations: Global processing can increase the pleasantness of touch
Laura Mirams1, Ellen Poliakoff1, Elizabeth H Zandstra2
1a School of Psychological Sciences , University of Manchester , Manchester , UK.
Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2006)
|November 28, 2015
Summary
Global and local processing influence passive touch perception, affecting its pleasantness. This suggests a shared mechanism across senses, linking visual attention to tactile experiences.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Perception
Background:
- Visual-tactile carry-over effects are known for active touch.
- The influence of global/local processing on passive touch is less understood.
- Differential effects on affective and discriminative touch aspects remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate global/local processing carry-over effects in passive touch.
- Examine if global/local processing differentially impacts affective (pleasantness) and discriminative touch.
- Explore potential common perceptual mechanisms across sensory modalities.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed visual Navon tasks focusing on global, local, or both features.
- Tactile tasks (pleasantness rating, discrimination) were conducted before and after visual tasks.
- Three participant groups (n=30 each) were assigned to global, local, or control (both features) conditions.
Main Results:
- Global processing enhanced pleasantness ratings for high-frequency tactile vibrations.
- Local processing did not improve tactile frequency discrimination.
- Evidence suggests prior local tactile processing may reduce visual global precedence.
Conclusions:
- Global and local processing exert carry-over effects on passive touch perception.
- Prior global processing influences the affective dimension (pleasantness) of touch.
- Findings support a common perceptual mechanism influencing processing levels across visual and tactile modalities.
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