The role of context in continuity and segmentation
Shira Baror1,2, Mor Cohen3, Nofar Haik3
1Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel. baror.shira@gmail.com.
Nature Human Behaviour
|February 11, 2026
Summary
Human experience involves continuity and segmentation. This study found that contextual changes affect both serial dependence (SD) and memory, but their distinct patterns suggest potentially separate underlying mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human Perception
Background:
- Human experience seamlessly integrates continuous flow with discrete event segmentation.
- The relationship between serial dependence (SD), a bias towards prior decisions, and event segmentation remains unclear.
- A Bayesian framework suggests a common predictive coding mechanism for both phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interplay between serial dependence (SD) and event segmentation effects on memory.
- To determine if contextual shifts influencing event boundaries impact SD and memory similarly or distinctly.
- To test the hypothesis of a shared underlying mechanism versus separate influences on perception and memory.
Main Methods:
- Conducted three experiments with 816 participants.
- Manipulated contextual changes to create event boundaries.
- Measured serial dependence (SD) and segmentation-related memory effects.
Main Results:
- Both serial dependence (SD) and memory are sensitive to context-induced event boundaries.
- Contextual boundaries can reduce SD, even without sensory changes.
- Observed dissociable patterns in how boundaries affect SD and memory, leaning towards distinct mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Context plays a significant role in shaping both serial dependence and memory.
- Findings suggest that while related, perception (SD) and memory segmentation may rely on partly distinct mechanisms.
- Further research is needed to definitively clarify the shared or distinct nature of these cognitive processes.
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