Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 25, 2026
13:51
Cross-Modal Multivariate Pattern Analysis
Published on: November 9, 2011
20.5K
Serial dependence generalizes across different stimulus formats, but not different sensory modalities
Michele Fornaciai1, Joonkoo Park2
1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 01003 Amherst, MA, USA.
Vision Research
|May 13, 2019
Summary
Serial dependence in visual perception creates an attractive bias, making current stimuli seem more like previous ones. This bias is abstract, applying to numerical magnitude across different visual formats, but not to auditory stimuli.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Visual perception involves mechanisms integrating information over time, leading to attractive biases.
- Previous research indicates attention modulates this effect, suggesting high-level cognitive control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the serial dependence mechanism generalizes across different stimulus formats and sensory modalities.
- To determine if this perceptual bias abstracts away from low-level stimulus properties.
Main Methods:
- Participants completed a numerosity discrimination task.
- Task-relevant visual stimuli (dot arrays) were preceded by sequences of visual flashes or auditory tones with varying numerosities.
Main Results:
- Visual sequences induced an attractive bias in judging subsequent visual dot arrays, demonstrating cross-format generalization.
- Auditory sequences did not influence the perception of visual numerosities.
Conclusions:
- Serial dependence in numerosity perception is based on abstract representations of numerical magnitude for visual stimuli, independent of format.
- A high-level mechanism supports visual stability by integrating abstract information over time, irrespective of sensory input details.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Sensory Modalities
3.8K
Sensation typically is the process by which the sensory receptors and sense organs detect stimuli from the internal and external environment and transmit this information to the central nervous system for processing.
General senses refer to the broad category of sensory information detected by receptors in the body and can be further grouped into somatic and visceral senses. Somatic sensations include touch, pressure, temperature, and pain and are essential for navigating our environment and...
General senses refer to the broad category of sensory information detected by receptors in the body and can be further grouped into somatic and visceral senses. Somatic sensations include touch, pressure, temperature, and pain and are essential for navigating our environment and...
3.8K
01:31What is a Sensory System?
100.9K
Sensory systems detect stimuli—such as light and sound waves—and transduce them into neural signals that can be interpreted by the nervous system. In addition to external stimuli detected by the senses, some sensory systems detect internal stimuli—such as the proprioceptors in muscles and tendons that send feedback about limb position.
100.9K
01:22Generalized Hooke's Law
2.7K
The generalized Hooke's Law is a broadened version of Hooke's Law, which extends to all types of stress and in every direction. Consider an isotropic material shaped into a cube subjected to multiaxial loading. In this scenario, normal stresses are exerted along the three coordinate axes. As a result of these stresses, the cubic shape deforms into a rectangular parallelepiped. Despite this deformation, the new shape maintains equal sides, and there is a normal strain in the direction of the...
2.7K
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
669
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
669
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
245
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group...
245
01:24Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction
1.4K
Generalization, discrimination, and extinction are key concepts in operant conditioning that influence how behaviors are learned and maintained.
Generalization occurs when a behavior reinforced in one context is performed in similar situations. For instance, a student who studies diligently for calculus and receives excellent grades might apply the same study habits to psychology and history, expecting similar results. Generalization shows how learning in one setting can influence behavior in...
Generalization occurs when a behavior reinforced in one context is performed in similar situations. For instance, a student who studies diligently for calculus and receives excellent grades might apply the same study habits to psychology and history, expecting similar results. Generalization shows how learning in one setting can influence behavior in...
1.4K