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Shape and color naming are inherently asymmetrical: Evidence from practice-based interference
Athanassios Protopapas1, Artemis Markatou2, Evangelos Samaras2
1Department of Philosophy & History of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
Cognition
|November 14, 2016
Summary
Extensive training created asymmetric interference in naming tasks, with shape naming resisting interference more than color naming. This suggests an inherent advantage for shape naming may support reading development.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human visual-verbal learning
Background:
- Stroop interference shows asymmetry: word naming is faster and interferes with color naming, but not vice versa.
- This asymmetry is traditionally linked to differing experience with words versus colors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if training visual-verbal associations, similar to color and shape naming, creates asymmetric interference patterns.
- To explore the role of inherent advantages in naming dimensions for developing reading skills.
Main Methods:
- Adults trained on visual-verbal paired associate tasks involving naming colors and shapes.
- Training involved unequal durations (2 vs. 10 days) or cross-category naming (12 days).
- Novel shapes (ideograms) and familiar geometric shapes were used, linked to nonsense syllables.
Main Results:
- Despite equal training, color naming was consistently more affected by shape interference than vice versa.
- Shape naming demonstrated significant resistance to interference, even after extensive practice.
- This asymmetric pattern persisted across different types of shapes and training protocols.
Conclusions:
- Training visual-verbal associations can induce asymmetric interference, mirroring Stroop effects.
- An innate or early advantage for shape naming might underlie the development of reading.
- Reading may be conceptualized as a form of visual-verbal association, akin to shape naming.
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