Automaticity in rule-based and information-integration categorization

Atten Percept Psychophys. 2010 May;72(4):1013-31. doi: 10.3758/APP.72.4.1013.

Abstract

Three experiments studied the effects of category structure on the development of categorization automaticity. In Experiment 1, participants were each trained for over 10,000 trials in a simple categorization task with one of three category structures. Results showed that after the first few sessions, there were no significant behavioral differences between participants who learned rule-based versus information-integration category structures. Experiment 2 showed that switching the locations of the response keys after automaticity had developed caused a similar highly significant interference, regardless of category structure. In Experiment 3, a simultaneous dual task that engaged executive functions did not interfere with either rule-based or information-integration categorization. These novel results are consistent with a theory assuming separate processing pathways for initial rule-based and information-integration category learning but a common processing pathway after the development of automaticity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Association Learning
  • Comprehension
  • Depth Perception
  • Discrimination Learning*
  • Feedback
  • Humans
  • Memory*
  • Models, Psychological
  • Orientation
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual*
  • Practice, Psychological*
  • Reaction Time*