A role for the perceptual representation memory system in category learning

Discriminations of the A–Not A difference test improved when “A” was familiarized using a brand image

“…Multiple memory systems have been proposed to mediate human category learning (Ashby & O'Brien, 2005). Among them, the perceptual representation memory system (PRS; Schacter, 1990) has recently been reported to mediate the A-Not A categorization (Casale & Ashby, 2008;Casale, Ashby, & Standring, 2005). The PRS is a non-declarative, presemantic memory system thought to be related to implicit learning (Ashby & O'Brien, 2005;Schacter, 1990).…”

Neural binding mechanisms in learning and memory

“…In contrast to representational binding the PRS does not represent elaborative information about the actual stimulus that can be linked to pre-existing knowledge. Instead, it provides a scalar signal of the perceptual similarity of two stimuli, that can be utilized in category learning, but is insufficient to establish a decontextualized representation of the regularities among these stimuli Casale and Ashby (2008).…”

Perceptual fluency can be used as a cue for categorization decisions

“…Casale and Ashby (2008) illustrated that performance on the prototype distortion task is best when perceptual learning is strengthened by training participants on stimuli that are highly similar to the category prototype. The length of training could also be manipulated to enhance perceptual learning.…”

“…Perceptual learning is likely enhanced with categorization training on items that are very similar to the prototype, as compared to training with items that are less similar to the prototype. When participants were trained with highly similar exemplars, their categorization performance was better than when they were trained with less similar exemplars (Casale & Ashby, 2008), suggesting that perceptual learning is important for prototype abstraction.…”

“…The pattern of responses given by participants is thought to reflect the nature of the category representations used to make categorization judgments. More recently, the task has been used to investigate the role of perceptual learning in categorization (e.g., Casale & Ashby, 2008;Coutinho, Couchman, Redford, & Smith, 2010).…”