Associative Learning of New Word Forms in a First Language (L1) and Haptic Referents in a Single-Day Experiment

This study focused on the associative learning of new word forms in the first language and haptic stimuli. In this study, healthy Japanese participants performed three-step tasks. First, participants made nine subjective evaluations of haptic stimuli using five-point semantic differential scales (e.g., regarding stickiness, scored from 1 (not sticky) to 5 (sticky)). Second, the participants carried out learning and recognition tasks for associative pairs of new (meaningless) word forms in their first language (Japanese) and haptic stimulus (H condition), and performed learning and recognition tasks for new (meaningless) word forms only (W condition). The order of conditions was counterbalanced among participants. Third, participants performed free recall tasks. The results of the recognition tasks showed that the proportions and response times of the W condition were better and faster, respectively, than those of the H condition. Furthermore, preference of haptic features negatively correlated with free recall scores of the H condition; however, there was no significant difference between the free recall scores of the H and W conditions. Our results suggest that new word forms were learned better than associative pairs of new word forms and haptic stimuli in a single day of learning. Furthermore, the free recall performance of word forms associated with haptic features could also be affected by their subjective evaluation (preference).