1
|
Yang H, Bao Y. Three-phase temporal dynamics in random number generation. Psych J 2023; 12:787-792. [PMID: 37681229 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
"Inhibition of return" (IOR) was originally described in the field of spatial attention, but it has also been observed in random number generation tasks. Subjects showed a tendency of "repetition avoidance," which can be considered as equivalent to IOR in another cognitive domain. As temporal factors have been suspected to play an important role in random number generation, we aimed to examine how such factors might influence regularities such as repetition avoidance in random number generation tasks. Participants were instructed to verbally generate a sequence of numbers at a certain pace, that is, with either 0.5, 1.5, 3 or 4 s between each response. Each number in the sequence should have the same probability of appearance and should be independent from the others. However, it was observed that the human-generated sequences differed drastically from computer-simulated pseudo-random sequences. The distribution of the repetition gap, which indicates how many different numbers are reported between two identical numbers in the generated sequences, showed a "three-phase" characteristic: a phase of avoidance of the same number, an oscillatory component for coming back to the same number, and finally an exponential decay of number selection frequencies. This three-phase characteristic was independent of the time interval between responses. These observations indicate an item-based process in random number generation, making a time-based control in this task rather unlikely as has been hypothetically assumed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haiming Yang
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig Maximillian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Yan Bao
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig Maximillian University, Munich, Germany
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li Y, Ye B, Bao Y. The same phase creates a unique visual rhythm unifying moving elements in time. Psych J 2023; 12:500-506. [PMID: 36916772 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Attention can be selectively tuned to particular features at different spatial locations or objects. The deployment of attention can be guided by properties, such as color, orientation, and so forth, as guiding features. What might be such guiding features for visual stimuli under dynamic rhythmic conditions? We asked specifically what might be the parameters that attract attention when perceiving a visual rhythm. We used a visual search paradigm, in which a dynamic search display consisted of vertically "bouncing balls" with regular rhythms. The search target was defined by a unique visual rhythm (i.e., with either a shorter or longer period) among rhythmic distractors sharing an identical period. We modulated amplitudes and phases of the distractor balls systematically. The results showed a crucial factor of the phase, not the amplitude. If the phase is violated, the target suddenly "pops out" as an "oddball," showing an efficient parallel search. The findings indicate in general the essential role of the phase in conjunction with amplitude and period for visual rhythm perception. Furthermore, a higher saliency of moving objects with a higher frequency component has also been disclosed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yao Li
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Biyi Ye
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Bao
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yang T, Li X, Li Y, Pöppel E, Bao Y. Temporal twilight zone and beyond: Timing mechanisms in consciously delayed actions. Psych J 2020; 9:791-803. [PMID: 33249767 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Precise timing is essential for many kinds of human behavior. When a fastest response is not required, movements are initiated at the appropriate time requiring an anticipatory temporal component. Temporal mechanisms for movements with such an anticipatory component are not yet sufficiently understood; in particular, it is not known whether on the operational level for delayed movements distinct time windows are used or whether anticipatory control is characterized by continuous temporal processing. With a modified reaction-time paradigm, we asked participants to act with predefined time delays between 400 and 5000 ms; after each individual trial, a numerical feedback was provided which allowed correction of the response time for each next trial. Visual stimuli (Experiment 1) and auditory stimuli (Experiment 2) were used. In the statistical analyses, piecewise linear models and exponential decay models for the response variability of different delay times were compared. These analyses favored piecewise linear models; a decreasing variability with increasing delay of voluntary controlled actions was observed up to ~1 s, followed by close to constant variability beyond this delay. We suggest that precise temporal control of voluntary delayed movements is reached only after a "temporal twilight zone" of ~1 s, which apparently marks a temporal border between two different timing mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taoxi Yang
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.,Human Science Center, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.,Parmenides Center for Art and Science, Pullach, Germany
| | - Xiaoxuan Li
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Li
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ernst Pöppel
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.,Human Science Center, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.,Parmenides Center for Art and Science, Pullach, Germany
| | - Yan Bao
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.,Human Science Center, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.,Parmenides Center for Art and Science, Pullach, Germany.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|