Repetition blindness reveals differences between the representations of manipulable and nonmanipulable objects

J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 2012 Oct;38(5):1228-41. doi: 10.1037/a0029035. Epub 2012 Jun 18.

Abstract

We used repetition blindness to investigate the nature of the representations underlying identification of manipulable objects. Observers named objects presented in rapid serial visual presentation streams containing either manipulable or nonmanipulable objects. In half the streams, 1 object was repeated. Overall accuracy was lower when streams contained 2 different manipulable objects than when they contained only nonmanipulable objects or a single manipulable object. In addition, nonmanipulable objects induced repetition blindness, whereas manipulable objects were associated with a repetition advantage. These findings suggest that motor information plays a direct role in object identification. Manipulable objects are vulnerable to interference from other objects associated with conflicting motor programs, but they show better individuation of repeated objects associated with the same action.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology*
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Repetition Priming / physiology*
  • Space Perception / physiology*
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult