The Japanese Journal of Psychonomic Science

[title in Japanese]

Article type: Cover
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages Cover1-
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413539

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Download PDF (1901K)
[title in Japanese]

Article type: Cover
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages Cover3-
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413564

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Download PDF (78K)
Integration of motion parallax and binocular disparity at near depth threshold level

Makoto ICHIKAWA, Shinya SAIDA

Article type: Article
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 1-11
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413543

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Show abstractHide abstract

We examined how the consistency of depth information from motion parallax and binocular disparity cues affects the interaction of these cues at near threshold level. For five adult observers, depth thresholds were measured by the use of stimuli in which motion and/or stereo cues specified the sinusoidal undulation with different spatial frequencies and different phases. Depth sensitivity was found to change only if these cues specified an undulation with the same spatial frequency: depth sensitivity was elevated when two cues specified an undulation with the same phase, while it declined when these cues specified an undulation in counter-phase. These results suggest that the processing of these cues is founded on a common mechanism in which motion and stereo cues interact in accordance with the consistency of the surface shape and depth order of the undulation specified by each cue.

View full abstract

Download PDF (988K)
A re-examination of the response latency theory on the Pulfrich phenomenon

Raiten TAYA, Yasuhiro OHASHI

Article type: Article
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 12-19
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413544

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Show abstractHide abstract

We re-examined the classical response latency theory by proposing a new theory based on response frequencies, which should increase with the amount of stimulation. The binocular system would determine the target's motion in depth by comparing two response frequencies in each monocular eye system. The subject observed dichoptically two targets, which were oscilating in the horizontal direction, concomitantly with each other. All targets were of the same luminance. In Experiment 1, one target was smaller than the other. The smaller the former was, the deeper the superimposed target appeared to swing, as predicted by our frequency theory. But when the former became too small, the depth appeared to decrease. In Experiment 2, one target was presented intermittently while the other was presented continuously. The less frequently the former was presented, the deeper the superimposed target appeared to swing, again as predicted by our frequency theory. Because the Pulfrich phenomenon appeared even when the two targets were of the same luminance, the response latency theory was proven to be insufficient. Some physiological speculations were added.

View full abstract

Download PDF (992K)
The effect of relative area of figures against a background on perceived lightness and impression of illumination

Aiko KOZAKI, Kaoru NOGUCHI

Article type: Article
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 20-26
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413545

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Show abstractHide abstract

In a configuration bearing a figure/ground relationship the effect of relative area on perceived lightness and perceived illumination was investigated. A gray disk patterned with black or white patches was used as the test field. The relative area of figure (patch) to ground (disk: the test field) was varied by changing the number of patches in the disk. The relative luminance was also varied by changes in Munsell value and illuminance. Subjects made judgments of both lightness and illumination. The results indicated that the effect of relative area was coupled with relative luminance and perceptual dimensions (perceived lightness and illumination): the area only affected perceived lightness of the test disk with higher luminance patch (white patch), but the area did not influence the impression of illumination which was determined by the presence of any higher luminance region: the highest luminance in the display gives a crucial clue in perceiving illumination regardless of its area. However if the largest area is associated with white-appearing, relative area is effective on apparent illumination.

View full abstract

Download PDF (727K)
Phonological processing of parafoveally presented kanji words

Masayuki MATSUDA

Article type: Article
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 27-35
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413546

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Show abstractHide abstract

Two priming experiments were conducted to investigate phonological processing of parafoveally presented kanji words. In the experiments, a prime stimulus in the parafovea was followed by a target stimulus in the fovea, and subjects made the lexical decision of the target. The primes and the targets were two-character kanji words or nonwords. In experiment 1, the prime that shared the first character with the target word facilitated processing of the target word even if pronunciations of the first characters were not the same. On the contrary, facilitation was not observed when the first characters of the prime and the target word were different even if they were pronounced the same. In experiment 2, facilitation was observed when the prime was a homophone of the target word even if the prime shared no character with the target word. These results suggest that phonological information of a kanji word but not of its constituent character is acquired in the parafovea and is used to help to identify a word that is later presented in the fovea.

View full abstract

Download PDF (1171K)
Retention of US postexposure effect on conditioned flavor preference in rats

Sadahiko NAKAJIMA

Article type: Article
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 36-40
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413547

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Show abstractHide abstract

Effect of postexposure of an unconditioned stimulus (US) on conditioned flavor preference in rats and its retention were explored. During conditioning, two bottles, one contained sucrose solution with Flavor A and the other contained tap water with Flavor B, were presented. For the next 24 hours, two groups of rats (Groups US-Post and Retention) were exposed to sucrose solution in isolation and free food. The remaining group (Group Control) was given tap water and free food during this period. Groups US-Post and Control were food-deprived for 24 hours and then tested with two unsweetened bottles, one with Flavor A and the other with Flavor B, and the degree of preference of Flavor A was measured. Group Retention received the same testing 4 days after the conditioning period. Group Control showed the more preference ratio of Flavor A than either Group US-Post or Group Retention, the latter of which did not differ between them. These results support the account that long-term habituation of the representation of the US after conditioning is a cause of the US postexposure effect.

View full abstract

Download PDF (660K)
A-03 Velocity discrimination in scotopic vision

Tatsuto TAKEUCHI, Karen K. De Valois

Article type: Article
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 41-42
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413548

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Show abstractHide abstract

To characterize scotopic motion mechanisms, we examined how variation in average luminance affects the ability to discriminate velocity. Stimuli were drifting horizontal sine-wave gratings. Velocity discrimination performance was most acute at a temporal frequency of about 5.0Hz, and fell off at both higher and lower temporal frequencies under photopic conditions. With decreasing adapting level, discrimination of high temporal frequencies became increasingly worse, while discrimination of low temporal frequencies remained largely unaltered. Discrimination performance was best at about 2.0Hz. These results can be explained by a motion mechanism comprising both low-pass and band-pass temporal filters under scotopic conditions.

View full abstract

Download PDF (254K)
A-09 Calibration of reflectance map when the light source exists in the direction of viewer

Jun'ichiro SEYAMA, Takao SATO

Article type: Article
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 43-44
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413549

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Show abstractHide abstract

Subjects observed images of cylinders illuminated from the viewer direction, and judged surface slant and crosssectional shape of perceived shapes. The reflectance maps used by the visual system were estimated from the relationship between the perceived shapes and the stimulus image intensity. The reflectance maps obtained from the judged slant varied depending on the stimuli, but those from the judged crosssectional shape were almost the same. These results suggest that when the light source exists in the viewer direction, the reflectance map is calibrated for slant perception, but a 'default' reflectance map is used for depth perception.

View full abstract

Download PDF (275K)
C-01 An examination of characteristic of bottom-up processing in featuredefined multiple targets search task

Mieko HAYASHI, Takatsune KUMADA

Article type: Article
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 45-46
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413550

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Show abstractHide abstract

Three experiments examined the effect of top-down information on reduction of bottom-up activity in modified visual feature search tasks: target detection, target discrimination, and homogeneity judgement tasks. Efficiency of bottom-up information is manipulated by varying the number of targets in a display. Results showed that search time for targets was influenced by the number of targets, suggesting that a singleton is not a useful bottom-up source for visual search. Search time was changed as a function of tasks. This suggests that top-down processing is also involved and that weighting of it depends on the task.

View full abstract

Download PDF (250K)
C-03 Distribution of visual attention on partially occluded objects : Evidence from spatial cuing task

Jun'ichiro KAWAHARA, Takao SATO

Article type: Article
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 47-48
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413551

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Show abstractHide abstract

To examine the characteristics of representation on which visual attention operates, we observed the cuing effects on a visual search of a target letter presented on partially occluded two-dimensional objects. Four rectangles were arranged in a woven tick-tack-toe grid. A cue was flashed at one end of a rectangle. Subjects judged the identity of the target letter presented on a rectangle. Reaction time was delayed when another object bisected the cued and the target location than when there was no occlusion between them. This indicated that visual attention does not operate solely on spatial or independent object-centered representation, but on a more elaborated one that is affected by occlusion.

View full abstract

Download PDF (268K)
C-09 The effect of the dual-task on the individual differences of working memory capacity

Yukiko NISHIZAKI

Article type: Article
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 49-50
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413552

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Show abstractHide abstract

The effect of dual-tasks on individual differences in working memory capacity was examined. Subjects were divided into high and low working memory capacity groups using the Japanese reading span test. Using a dual-task method, the differences of processing on language comprehension between the high-span group and low-span group was explored. The primary task was the listening comprehension task, in which, subjects were required to answer questions concerning the contents of sentences after listening to the materials. The secondary task was a target-pursuit task. A significant interference effect in the dual-task was found in the high-span group, indicating that the high-span group comprehended sentences more deeply than the low-span group with multiple processing.

View full abstract

Download PDF (258K)
[title in Japanese]

[in Japanese]

Article type: Article
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 51-52
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413553

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Download PDF (275K)
Neuromagnetic studies on character and word recognition(Mind viewed through cognitive neuroscience: Neuroimaging, a window on the brain)

Sachiko KOYAMA, Ryusuke KAKIGI

Article type: Article
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 52-56
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413554

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Show abstractHide abstract

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a noninvasive technique for measuring neural activities in the living human brain. In MEG studies, magnetic fields produced by electric currents flowing in neurons are measured. The site in the cerebral cortex activated by a stimulus can be found from the detected magnetic field distribution. The time resolution of the method is better than 1 ms and the spatial resolution is, under favorable circumstances, 2-3mm. MEG can thus be a useful tool for investigating neural mechanisms underlying cognition. Our recent MEG studies on character and word recognition are reviewed.

View full abstract

Download PDF (694K)
Change of brain magnetic field and cerebral blood flow accompaning voluntary movement revealed by functional imaging(Mind viewed through cognitive neuroscience: Neuroimaging, a window on the brain)

Takashi NAGAMINE

Article type: Article
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 57-62
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413555

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Show abstractHide abstract

Recent development of functional imaging has enabled us to approach brain function related to voluntary movement. Movement-related cortical field (MRCF) recorded by magnetoencephalography (MEG) has disclosed readiness field (RF), which starts 1 sec to the movement and distributes over the primary motor area contralateral to the moving side. RF culminates motor field (MF), whose generator source can be localized over the anatomical primary motor area. By comparing MRCF with previous EEG study, temporal profile of activation in the motor area can be well estimated. Recently, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has become one of the powerful tools to delineate brain function. In addition to the high spatial resolution, event-related fMRI can obtain better temporal resolution. By this way, activated area related to muscle relaxation can be shown over the primary motor area and supplementary motor area. Combined functional imaging enables us to obtain better comprehension of brain mechanism related to voluntary movement.

View full abstract

Download PDF (721K)
Evoked magnetic field elicited by motion aftereffect(Mind viewed through cognitive neuroscience: Neuroimaging, a window on the brain)

Naoyuki OSAKA

Article type: Article
1998 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 62-67
Published: September 30, 1998
Released on J-STAGE: November 16, 2016

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.14947/psychono.KJ00004413556

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

Show abstractHide abstract

Neural correlates of motion aftereffect (MAE) was investigated using magnetoencephalogram (MEG). MAE is an after effect caused by prolonged viewing of visual motion. After gazing at a moving pattern for a while, a stationary image will appear to move in the opposite direction. Evoked magnetic field was measured when a subject observing MAE in which concentric circles appear to continuously contracting after viewing expanding real motion. Visual evoked magnetic fields (VEFs) were averaged from 37 cortical points over occipital, temporal and parietal areas of the human brain during observing MAE. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) brain images and estimated equal current dipole locus was fitted for each subject. The results clearly indicated the main brain location activated by MAE appears to be conjunction region (meeting area of lateral occipitotemporal sulcus and inferior temporal sulcus) over the parieto-occipitotemporal cortex, corresponding to the human homologue of area MT.

View full abstract

Download PDF (971K)

Register with J-STAGE for free!