Crossmodal transfer of perceptual learning: Evidence from the recognition of first and second language characters in young children

Crossmodal transfer of learning is a neurocognitive process whereby a learner's experience and knowledge acquired through one sensory mode enable him/her to perform a similar task using a different sensory mode. This study examined the transfer of (mostly) visually acquired knowledge of first- and second-language characters to the tactile modality typically not used in that acquisition process. Two experiments were conducted, one to assess letter recognition skills and one to assess digit recognition skills in both Bangla and English, in 30 sighted young children who had mastered those characters through sensory learning in natural settings. Results unequivocally demonstrated that children were able to recognize/classify the first and second language letters or digits presented not only to the (trained) visual modality but to the (untrained) tactile modality as well, and as expected, with greater recognition accuracy and shorter recognition time in the former than the latter modality. Their character recognition performance was found to be significantly influenced not by language but by character type, with digits being more accurately and more speedily recognized than letters. Moreover, language-task modality interaction was found to mediate letter recognition accuracy, digit recognition accuracy, and digit recognition time, whereas character type-task modality interaction was found to significantly mediate character recognition time only. The ecological and theoretical significance of these findings is discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Do we enjoy what we sense and perceive? A dissociation between aesthetic appreciation and basic perception of environmental objects or events

This integrative review rearticulates the notion of human aesthetics by critically appraising the conventional definitions, offerring a new, more comprehensive definition, and identifying the fundamental components associated with it. It intends to advance holistic understanding of the notion by differentiating aesthetic perception from basic perceptual recognition, and by characterizing these concepts from the perspective of information processing in both visual and nonvisual modalities. To this end, we analyze the dissociative nature of information processing in the brain, introducing a novel local-global integrative model that differentiates aesthetic processing from basic perceptual processing. This model builds on the current state of the art in visual aesthetics as well as newer propositions about nonvisual aesthetics. This model comprises two analytic channels: aesthetics-only channel and perception-to-aesthetics channel. The aesthetics-only channel primarily involves restricted local processing for quality or richness (e.g., attractiveness, beauty/prettiness, elegance, sublimeness, catchiness, hedonic value) analysis, whereas the perception-to-aesthetics channel involves global/extended local processing for basic feature analysis, followed by restricted local processing for quality or richness analysis. We contend that aesthetic processing operates independently of basic perceptual processing, but not independently of cognitive processing. We further conjecture that there might be a common faculty, labeled as aesthetic cognition faculty, in the human brain for all sensory aesthetics albeit other parts of the brain can also be activated because of basic sensory processing prior to aesthetic processing, particularly during the operation of the second channel. This generalized model can account not only for simple and pure aesthetic experiences but for partial and complex aesthetic experiences as well.

Perception and Appreciation of Tactile Objects: The Role of Visual Experience and Texture Parameters

This exploratory study was designed to examine the effects of visual experience and specific texture parameters on both discriminative and aesthetic aspects of tactile perception. To this end, the authors conducted two experiments using a novel behavioral (ranking) approach in blind and (blindfolded) sighted individuals. Groups of congenitally blind, late blind, and (blindfolded) sighted participants made relative stimulus preference, aesthetic appreciation, and smoothness or softness judgment of two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) tactile surfaces through active touch. In both experiments, the aesthetic judgment was assessed on three affective dimensions, Relaxation, Hedonics, and Arousal, hypothesized to underlie visual aesthetics in a prior study. Results demonstrated that none of these behavioral judgments significantly varied as a function of visual experience in either experiment. However, irrespective of visual experience, significant differences were identified in all these behavioral judgments across the physical levels of smoothness or softness. In general, 2D smoothness or 3D softness discrimination was proportional to the level of physical smoothness or softness. Second, the smoother or softer tactile stimuli were preferred over the rougher or harder tactile stimuli. Third, the 3D affective structure of visual aesthetics appeared to be amodal and applicable to tactile aesthetics. However, analysis of the aesthetic profile across the affective dimensions revealed some striking differences between the forms of appreciation of smoothness and softness, uncovering unanticipated substructures in the nascent field of tactile aesthetics. While the physically softer 3D stimuli received higher ranks on all three affective dimensions, the physically smoother 2D stimuli received higher ranks on the Relaxation and Hedonics but lower ranks on the Arousal dimension. Moreover, the Relaxation and Hedonics ranks accurately overlapped with one another across all the physical levels of softness/hardness, but not across the physical levels of smoothness/roughness. These findings suggest that physical texture parameters not only affect basic tactile discrimination but differentially mediate tactile preferences, and aesthetic appreciation. The theoretical and practical implications of these novel findings are discussed.

Neuroplasticity and Crossmodal Connectivity in the Normal, Healthy Brain

Objective

Neuroplasticity enables the brain to establish new crossmodal connections or reorganize old connections which are essential to perceiving a multisensorial world. The intent of this review is to identify and summarize the current developments in neuroplasticity and crossmodal connectivity, and deepen understanding of how crossmodal connectivity develops in the normal, healthy brain, highlighting novel perspectives about the principles that guide this connectivity.

Methods

To the above end, a narrative review is carried out. The data documented in prior relevant studies in neuroscience, psychology and other related fields available in a wide range of prominent electronic databases are critically assessed, synthesized, interpreted with qualitative rather than quantitative elements, and linked together to form new propositions and hypotheses about neuroplasticity and crossmodal connectivity.

Results

Three major themes are identified. First, it appears that neuroplasticity operates by following eight fundamental principles and crossmodal integration operates by following three principles. Second, two different forms of crossmodal connectivity, namely direct crossmodal connectivity and indirect crossmodal connectivity, are suggested to operate in both unisensory and multisensory perception. Third, three principles possibly guide the development of crossmodal connectivity into adulthood. These are labeled as the principle of innate crossmodality, the principle of evolution-driven 'neuromodular' reorganization and the principle of multimodal experience. These principles are combined to develop a three-factor interaction model of crossmodal connectivity.

Conclusions

The hypothesized principles and the proposed model together advance understanding of neuroplasticity, the nature of crossmodal connectivity, and how such connectivity develops in the normal, healthy brain.

Haptic aesthetics in the blind: A behavioral and fMRI investigation

Understanding perception and aesthetic appeal of arts and environmental objects, what is appreciated, liked, or preferred, and why, is of prime importance for improving the functional capacity of the blind and visually impaired and the ergonomic design for their environment, which however so far, has been examined only in sighted individuals. This paper provides a general overview of the first experimental study of tactile aesthetics as a function of visual experience and level of visual deprivation, using both behavioral and brain imaging techniques. We investigated how blind people perceive 3D tactile objects, how they characterize them, and whether the tactile perception, and tactile shape preference (liking or disliking) and tactile aesthetic appreciation (judging tactile qualities of an object, such as pleasantness, comfortableness etc.) of 3D tactile objects can be affected by the level of visual experience. The study employed innovative behavioral measures, such as new forms of aesthetic preference-appreciation and perceptual discrimination questionnaires, in combination with advanced functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) techniques, and compared congenitally blind, late-onset blind and blindfolded (sighted) participants. Behavioral results demonstrated that both blind and blindfolded-sighted participants assessed curved or rounded 3D tactile objects as significantly more pleasing than sharp 3D tactile objects, and symmetric 3D tactile objects as significantly more pleasing than asymmetric 3D tactile objects. However, as compared to the sighted, blind people showed better skills in tactile discrimination as demonstrated by accuracy and speed of discrimination. Functional MRI results demonstrated that there was a large overlap and characteristic differences in the aesthetic appreciation brain networks in the blind and the sighted. As demonstrated both populations commonly recruited the somatosensory and motor areas of the brain, but with stronger activations in the blind as compared to the sighted. Secondly, sighted people recruited more frontal regions whereas blind people, in particular, the congenitally blind, paradoxically recruited more 'visual' areas of the brain. These differences were more pronounced between the sighted and the congenitally blind rather than between the sighted and the late-onset blind, indicating the key influence of the onset time of visual deprivation. Understanding of the underlying brain mechanisms should have a wide range of important implications for a generalized cross-sensory theory and practice in the rapidly evolving field of neuroaesthetics, as well as for 'cutting-edge' rehabilitation technologies for the blind and the visually impaired.

The Parental Bonding Instrument: A psychometric measure to assess parenting practices in the homes in Bangladesh

There is growing importance of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) in clinical practice and research on parenting and parental bonding. Since the development of this diagnostic tool (Parker et al., Brit. J. Med. Psycho.1979; 52:1-10), a number of validation studies have been done in various cultures. The aim of the present study was to translate the measure into Bangla and validate in Bangladeshi culture. A total of 200 adolescents participated in the study. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the data from 191 participants (who provided complete responses) identified a two-factor (Care and Overprotection) structure of the PBI with 17 items. The two factors together explained 44.18% of the total variance. The factors showed moderate to very high internal consistency (Cronbach's α=0.863 for Care; 0.622 for Overprotection), and very strong convergent and discriminant validity as evident by their correlations with the measures of cognitive distortions and antisocial behaviors. In line with the original tool we defined four types of parenting style, such as Affectionate constraint, Affectionless control, Optimal parenting, and Neglectful parenting. This study opens the door of future research on parenting practices and parent-child relationships in Bangladesh.

Anticlockwise or clockwise? A dynamic Perception-Action-Laterality model for directionality bias in visuospatial functioning

Orientation bias and directionality bias are two fundamental functional characteristics of the visual system. Reviewing the relevant literature in visual psychophysics and visual neuroscience we propose here a three-stage model of directionality bias in visuospatial functioning. We call this model the 'Perception-Action-Laterality' (PAL) hypothesis. We analyzed the research findings for a wide range of visuospatial tasks, showing that there are two major directionality trends in perceptual preference: clockwise versus anticlockwise. It appears these preferences are combinatorial, such that a majority of people fall in the first category demonstrating a preference for stimuli/objects arranged from left-to-right rather than from right-to-left, while people in the second category show an opposite trend. These perceptual biases can guide sensorimotor integration and action, creating two corresponding turner groups in the population. In support of PAL, we propose another model explaining the origins of the biases - how the neurogenetic factors and the cultural factors interact in a biased competition framework to determine the direction and extent of biases. This dynamic model can explain not only the two major categories of biases in terms of direction and strength, but also the unbiased, unreliably biased or mildly biased cases in visuosptial functioning.

The How I Think questionnaire: Assessing its psychometric properties in Bangladeshi culture

There is growing importance of the How I Think (HIT) questionnaire in clinical practice and cognitive research. Since the development of the HIT (Barriga and Gibbs, Aggress. Behav., 1996; 22: 333-343), a number of validation studies have been done in various cultures. The aim of the present study was to translate the instrument into Bangla and validate in Bangladeshi culture. A total of 200 adolescents participated in the study. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the data from 191 participants (88 girls and 103 boys; who provided complete responses) identified a four-factor structure of the HIT with 27 items. The four factors namely 'Catastrophizing and mislabeling', 'Emotional reasoning', 'Self-centeredness and blaming' and 'Overgeneralization' together explained 39.611% of the total variance. In line with the original scale we also defined four types of antisocial behavior. The HIT and its factors showed acceptable to good internal consistency (Cronbach's α=.83 for the HIT, and .40-.77 for its factors), and strong construct validity as revealed by the evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. Thus the Bangla version HIT appears to be valid and reliable, and therefore may be used in further research on cognitive distortions and antisocial behaviors in Bangladesh.

The Internet Addiction Test: assessing its psychometric properties in Bangladeshi culture

There is growing importance of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) in Internet addiction research around the world. Since the development of the IAT (Young, 1996, 1998), a number of validation studies have been done in various cultures. The aim of this study was to translate the instrument into Bangla and validate in Bangladeshi culture, a culture vulnerable to Internet addiction. A total of 177 Internet users (77 females and 100 males) participated in the study. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the data from 172 participants (who provided complete responses) identified a four factor structure of the IAT with 18 items. The four factors namely 'Neglect of duty', 'Online dependence', 'Virtual fantasies', and 'Privacy and self-defense' together explained 55.68% of the total variance. Problematic (moderate/excessive) users on the IAT scored, on average, higher on each of the four IAT factors as compared to average or non-problematic (minimal) users consistently across genders. The IAT and its factors showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α=.89 for the IAT, and .60-.84 for the factors), strong convergent and discriminant validity. Thus, the Bangla version IAT appears to be valid and reliable and therefore may be used in further research on Internet addiction in the country.