Many researchers have confirmed that repeating presentation of stimuli enhances cognitive/affective evaluation, especially preference, of the stimuli (mere exposure effect). In our study, we aimed to examine the hypothesis that memory representation itself could be changed to having the better impressions by the repeated exposure. If the representation is changed by the repetition, images (distracter) which have better impressions would be confused with original images (target). We used face images with quantitatively manipulating facial impressions regarding elegance. We compared the preferences and recognition memory (hits and false alarms) between the repeated and novel stimuli. As the result, it was suggested that our hypothesis would be supported when the stimuli were subliminally exposed whereas the hypothesis would not be supported when the stimuli were supraliminally exposed.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

Using Think/No-Think task, Anderson & Green (2001) indicated that individuals could suppress their memory intentionally. In current paper we examined whether distraction strategy was effective for memory suppression in Think/No-Think task and whether the suppression altered with time. We conducted two-day experiment. On day one, thirty-four participants learned noun pairs (cue-target). Next, confronting of cues, they suppress some target and suppressed some target each twelve times. The other target was not presented. During suppression, distraction condition (N=17) used the strategy that was to think nonverbal image but control condition (N=17) didn't. Finally they took cue-recall test. On day two, they took only the test again. The result showed that only control condition suppressed targets and temporal change of memory suppression was not seen. It suggests that distraction strategy is ineffective and that memory suppression have temporal stability. In further research, one needs to consider the strategies other than distraction strategy.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

Numerous studies exemplify the holistic processing of faces. In recent years, several studies provided evidence showing the inversion effect and the composite face effect suggested that the holistic process worked in the recognition of facial expressions(Calder, et al., 2000; Calder & Jansen, 2005; Fallshore & Bartholow, 2003; White, 1999). These previous studies suggest that the recognition of a local face part is affected by the other facial part(s). This suggestion raises the possibility that the holistic emotional representation of face may illusory shift the neutral face part (such as neutral mouth, eyes or eyebrows) into expressive one. Here, I aimed at clarifying this question. In the result, I found that participants were mistaken to recognize a neutral facial part in a whole face as a part expressing emotion. This result is consistent with the previous studies which showed facial expressions are recognized holistically.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

It has been indicated that subjective rating such as goodness showed a very high correlation to the redundancy of visual pattern. In contrast, affective characteristics such as preference and pleasure are hard to correspond with the redundancy. Therefore, it remains to be solved what sorts of effects affective characteristics have on the recognition of visual pattern. Firstly, in this study, we examined the internal criteria to be included in visual pattern, using semantic differential method. By principal factor method, factors were extracted: Figural coherence, Evaluation, Activity, and Potency. Further, we controlled the redundancy and examined the influences of the affective characteristics by means of cluster analyses on the factor scores. As a result, the clusters were divided significantly in Evaluation factor. We discuss affective characteristics, which are hard to be predicted by the redundancy, together with their considerable effects on the pattern recognition.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

We examine whether short-term memory representation of simultaneously presented tactile stimuli to fingertips is separated or integrated between each digit. To determine this, we use a "one-shot" change detection paradigm. In this paradigm, two stimulus arrays are presented sequentially, and observers are required to report whether a change has occurred between them. Results show that short-term memory representation of simultaneously presented tactile stimuli to fingertips seems to be integratedbetween each digit, and it is after bilateral integration. We believe that this representation is not topical and fine-scale, and is not a pure replica of the external world.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

The adaptation process by drivers who have different cognitive function was investigated in a driving simulator environment. Eight participants were grouped according to the score of EAEQ (Everyday Attention Experiences Questionnaire). In addition, FFPQ (Five Factor Personality Questionnaire) and EPQ (Error Proneness Questionnaire) were used. The tasks were maintaining the distance between a car and the one in front as 5 m (short distance) or 20 m (long distance) and slowing down as soon as possible when they detected a brake light of forward vehicle. Results indicated that the reaction time for braking was shorter in long distance condition than that in short distance condition. Furthermore, the distance between a car and the one in front did not change through the trials. This suggests that the internal criterion involving distance maintains robustly and this needs consideration to examine human behavior in virtual environment.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

We examined the influence of the train radio, which is not directly relevant to the task, on the task performance of train drivers and university students. The participants performed auditory-visual dual tasks while they ignored the sound of the train radio that was played during the experiment. This radio was presented through either the forward or the backward speaker. After the experiment, in the recognition task, the participants were required to answer questions pertaining to the train radio without prior notice. The results revealed that the train drivers recognized more information than the university students when the radio was presented from the forward speaker. From the results, we demonstrate that if visual attention is directed to the front, auditory attention is also directed in the same direction. This observation suggests that applied psychological evidence for the existence of crossmodal links in spatial attention between vision and audition and the knowledge of train radios influenced the effect of crossmodal links.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the asymmetric interference between stroop and reverse-stroop interference in ADD and the relationship between the two interference and attention traits. In study 1,the participants accepted stroop and revrse-stroop color-word test , it found that: although the ADD were not weak in stroop interference control (word-to-color interference control),they showed impairment in reverse-stroop interference control (color-to-word interference control). Asymmetric interference between stroop and reverse-stroop interference in ADD was observed. Study 2 examined whether the stroop, revere-stroop interference is related to different attention traits. The research result showed that: as to ADD, the stroop interference has intimate relationship with attention shift and continuity, while, the reverse-stroop interference is only related with attention concentration It is possible that attention concentration deficit is the core deficit for ADD.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

Past studies indicate that warm weather or warm seasons are associated with higher crime rates. This study investigated seasonal differences between perceived risks and crime prevention strategies of university students. University students were asked to estimate seasonal differences of subjective crime rates. Results revealed that women and men estimated higher crime rates during summer than in other seasons. Next, university students were queried for their perceived risks and crime prevention strategies during April, July, October, and January. Results showed that women perceive higher risks and higher levels of avoidance-related strategies with significantly higher frequency than men. Nevertheless, no seasonal differences of perceived risks and levels of crime prevention strategies were observed for women or men. These results suggest that university students can estimate seasonal differences of crime rates correctly, but their subjective estimation of seasonal crime rates does not influence their perceived risks and crime prevention strategies.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract