Title | Information-integration category learning and the human uncertainty response |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2011 |
Authors | Paul, E. J., Boomer J., J Smith D., & F Ashby G. |
Journal | Memory & Cognition |
Volume | 39 |
Issue | 3 |
Pagination | 536-554 |
Date Published | 2011 Apr |
ISSN | 1532-5946 |
Keywords | Association Learning, Attention, Concept Formation, Contrast Sensitivity, Decision Making, Discrimination (Psychology), Humans, Mental Processes, Mental Recall, Orientation, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Psychophysics, Recognition (Psychology), Size Perception, Uncertainty |
Abstract | The human response to uncertainty has been well studied in tasks requiring attention and declarative memory systems. However, uncertainty monitoring and control have not been studied in multi-dimensional, information-integration categorization tasks that rely on non-declarative procedural memory. Three experiments are described that investigated the human uncertainty response in such tasks. Experiment 1 showed that following standard categorization training, uncertainty responding was similar in information-integration tasks and rule-based tasks requiring declarative memory. In Experiment 2, however, uncertainty responding in untrained information-integration tasks impaired the ability of many participants to master those tasks. Finally, Experiment 3 showed that the deficit observed in Experiment 2 was not because of the uncertainty response option per se, but rather because the uncertainty response provided participants a mechanism via which to eliminate stimuli that were inconsistent with a simple declarative response strategy. These results are considered in the light of recent models of category learning and metacognition. |
DOI | 10.3758/s13421-010-0041-4 |
Alternate Journal | Mem Cognit |
PubMed ID | 21264597 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC3063542 |
Grant List | P01 HD060563 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States R43 CA093106 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States R44 CA093106 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States |