Transfer of prototypes based on visual, tactual, and kinesthetic exemplars

The issue of prototype formation among visually, kinesthetically, and tactually presented stimuli was studied by means of a cross-modality transfer task. Subjects were first given experience with geometric figures presented in one of three modes (visual, tactual, or kinesthetic) and then were asked to identify geometric figures, presented in one of the three modes, as "old" or "new". The results indicated that prototype formation occurred in the tactual mode as well as in the other modes and that, in general, prototypes formed by experiences with one modality are falsely recognized as old items when presented in another modality. The results were discussed in terms of prototype formation, the encoding process, and second-order isomorphism.