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Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults
Published on: July 16, 2016
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Crossmodal correspondences between visual features and tastes in preschoolers: an exploratory study
Xianwei Meng1, Na Chen2, Junya Ishida3
1Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
Frontiers in Psychology
|August 30, 2023
Summary
Preschool children show specific crossmodal correspondences in shape, color, and taste associations. These sensory pairings, like circle-red and pink-sweet, emerge in early development but may differ from adult associations.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Crossmodal Perception
Background:
- Adults naturally link sensory cues across modalities (e.g., sweet-pink).
- Research on crossmodal correspondences in children, especially visual-taste pairings, is limited.
- Understanding the developmental trajectory of crossmodal perception is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate crossmodal correspondences in Japanese preschool children.
- To examine shape-color, shape-taste, and color-taste associations in young children.
- To explore the developmental emergence of sensory pairings.
Main Methods:
- In-person experiments with 92 Japanese children aged 3-6 years.
- Utilized matching tasks with paper stimuli.
- Assessed shape-color, shape-taste, and color-taste associations.
Main Results:
- Children demonstrated specific crossmodal correspondences: circle-red, asymmetrical star-yellow (shape-color); triangle-salty, circle-sweet (shape-taste); yellow-sour, black-bitter, pink-sweet (color-taste).
- Children's choices were not influenced by personal preferences.
- Observed correspondences align with some adult associations but are less numerous.
Conclusions:
- Certain crossmodal correspondences are present in early childhood.
- Some sensory pairings develop later, indicating an ontogenic progression.
- Further research is needed to understand the cognitive mechanisms of developing crossmodal perception.
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