Word and Face Recognition Processing Based on Response Times and Ex-Gaussian Components.

The face is a fundamental feature of our identity. In humans, the existence of specialized processing modules for faces is now widely accepted. However, identifying the processes involved for proper names is more problematic. The aim of the present study is to examine which of the two treatments is produced earlier and whether the social abilities are influent. We selected 100 university students divided into two groups: Spanish and USA students. They had to recognize famous faces or names by using a masked priming task. An analysis of variance about the reaction times (RT) was used to determine whether significant differences could be observed in word or face recognition and between the Spanish or USA group. Additionally, and to examine the role of outliers, the Gaussian distribution has been modified exponentially. Famous faces were recognized faster than names, and differences were observed between Spanish and North American participants, but not for unknown distracting faces. The current results suggest that response times to face processing might be faster than name recognition, which supports the idea of differences in processing nature.

The Effect of Corrective Feedback on Performance in Basic Cognitive Tasks: An Analysis of RT Components.

The current work examines the effect of trial-by-trial feedback about correct and error responding on performance in two basic cognitive tasks: a classic Stroop task (n = 40) and a color-word matching task (n = 30). Standard measures of both RT and accuracy were examined in addition to measures obtained from fitting the ex-Gaussian distributional model to the correct RTs. For both tasks, RTs were faster in blocks of trials with feedback than in blocks without feedback, but this difference was not significant. On the other hand, with respect to the distributional analyses, providing feedback served to significantly reduce the size of the tails of the RT distributions. Such results suggest that, for conditions in which accuracy is fairly high, the effect of corrective feedback might either be to reduce the tendency to double-check before responding or to decrease the amount of attentional lapsing.

The effects of age and emotional valence on recognition memory: an ex-Gaussian components analysis.

The aim of this work was to study the effects of valence and age on visual image recognition memory. The International Affective Picture System (IAPS) battery was used, and response time data were analyzed using analysis of variance, as well as an ex-Gaussian fit method. Older participants were slower and more variable in their reaction times. Response times were longer for negative valence pictures, however this was statistically significant only for young participants. This suggests that negative emotional valence has a strong effect on recognition memory in young but not in old participants. The τ parameter, often related to attention in the literature, was smaller for young than old participants in an ex-Gaussian fit. Differences on the τ parameter might suggest poorer attentional performance in old participants.

The Effect of Corrective Feedback in Basic Cognitive Tasks: A Study in Early Childhood.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of trial-by-trial corrective feedback in a go-no-go task for children. A sample of 40 preschool students, divided into 4- and 5-year-olds, participated in the study, as well as a group of 20 university students. All the groups performed the task in a counterbalanced design of blocks with and without corrective feedback. Reaction time and accuracy rate were measured as dependent variables. Moreover, reaction time was also analyzed through an ex-Gaussian fit. Children were slightly more accurate and slower under the presence of corrective feedback, suggesting a more conservative pattern. University students were faster, but corrective feedback did not reach the statistical level. Regarding reaction time components, a reduction of the distribution tails, depicted by the τ parameter, was found for both groups under the corrective feedback condition. This suggests that parameterization of reaction time can be considered as a strategy for a more detailed analysis to examine the effect of corrective feedback, even at early ages. In this way, corrective feedback depicted beneficial effects in the τ parameter at early ages, suggesting its use in basic cognitive tasks based on go-no-go but not for older groups.

How effective are 3D anaglyph stimuli? An analysis in emotional recognition / Quão eficazes são os estímulos de anáglifos 3D? Uma análise no reconhecimento emocional / ¿Qué eficacia tienen los estímulos anaglifos 3D? Un análisis del reconocimiento emocional

The aim of this study was to examine the role of virtual environments in visual recognition. A classic and economically accessible technique was chosen: anaglyph. A battery of images that differed in their emotional charge was developed. The emotional valence of the new stimulus was evaluated using the SAM battery. 2D and anaglyph modalities were also tested. 32 subjects participated in the first study and 42 subjects in the recognition task. The results: i) Participants were more accurate in classic 2D environments compared to 3D, ii) participants were more efficient in the negative 3D condition compared to the rest of the emotional conditions in this category, while the neutral environment was the most efficient for 2D. It is suggested that coding information would be simpler for a 2D stimulus, however, effects as robust as emotional charge would manifest more clearly in a deeper presentation (AU).

O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar o papel dos ambientes virtuais no reconhecimento visual. Foi escolhida uma técnica clássica e economicamente acessível a todos: o anáglifo. Foi desenvolvida uma bateria de imagens que diferiam em sua carga emocional. Avaliou-se a valência emocional do novo estímulo por meio da bateria SAM. As modalidades 2D e anáglifo também foram testadas. Participaram 32 sujeitos no primeiro estudo e 42 sujeitos na tarefa de reconhecimento. Os resultados: i) Os participantes foram mais precisos nos ambientes 2D clássicos em comparação com os 3D; ii) os participantes foram mais eficientes na condição negativa 3D em comparação com o resto das condições emocionais nessa categoria, enquanto o ambiente neutro foi o mais eficiente para 2D. Sugere-se que a codificação da informação seria mais simples para um estímulo 2D, no entanto, efeitos tão robustos quanto a carga emocional se manifestariam mais claramente em uma apresentação mais profunda (AU).

El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar el papel de los entornos virtuales en el reconocimiento visual. Se eligió una técnica clásica y económicamente accesible: el anaglifo. Se desarrolló una batería de imágenes que diferían en su carga emocional. La valencia emocional del nuevo estímulo fue evaluada a través de la batería SAM. Se probaron las modalidades 2D y anaglifo. 32 sujetos participaron en el primer estudio y 42 sujetos en la tarea de reconocimiento. Los resultados: i) los participantes fueron más precisos en entornos 2D clásicos en comparación con 3D, ii) los participantes fueron más eficientes en la condición 3D negativa en comparación con el resto de las condiciones emocionales en esta categoría, mientras que el entorno neutral fue el más eficiente para 2D. Se sugiere que la codificación de información sería más simple para un estímulo 2D, sin embargo, efectos tan robustos como la carga emocional se manifestarían más claramente en una presentación de mayor profundidad (AU).