Recognizing tactile representations of familiar objects: the influence of pre-cuing when touch replaces vision as the dominant sense modality

Abstract

The present study investigated whether newly blinded individuals show improved proficiency, i.e., accuracy and exploration time, in recognizing tactile representations of familiar objects when they are (1) visually and (2) tactually pre-cued. Experiment 1 examined 32 newly blinded (i.e., blindfolded-sighted) individuals, half of whom were visually pre-cued. The results suggested that visual precuing improved accuracy, both in categorizing and in naming, and exploration time. Experiment 2 examined 16 newly blinded (i.e., blindfolded-sighted) individuals before and after tactual pre-cuing. The results suggested that tactual pre-cuing improved accuracy in categorizing, but not in naming, and exploration time.

Mental Manipulation, Thus Recognition of Familiar Shapes: The Influence of Pre-cuing When Touch Replaces Vision as the Dominant Sense Modality

“…Design Experiment 1 was, as in Graven's study, 3 designed as a posttest-only control-group design. The visual precursor, aimed at pre-cuing prior to total sight loss, included a preliminary visual training where the goal of the exercise was to become familiar with the posttest material.…”

“…The visual precursor, aimed at pre-cuing prior to total sight loss, included a preliminary visual training where the goal of the exercise was to become familiar with the posttest material. 3 It was hypothesized that newly blinded individuals improve their proficiency in mental (unfamiliar shape) manipulation, and thus recognition of familiar shapes, significantly if visually pre-cued.…”

“…She also found that a (re)activated vision-touch link, (re)activated by processing modalityirrelevant, i.e., shape (see, e.g., Cornoldi & Vecchi, 6 Graven, 10 Millar 9,12 ), information, seems to improve the proficiency in recognizing tactile representations of familiar objects. 3 In short, previous research revealed that newly blinded individuals (1) recognized tangible pictures of familiar objects and shapes and (2) improved their recognition proficiency when pre-cued and/or when a vision-touch link was (re)activated. Still, apart from Millar, 5 previous research does not seem to focus on whether pre-cuing and/or a (re)activated vision-touch link also influences the proficiency in recognizing unfamiliar tactile objects and shapes.…”

“…Second, earlier research focused on the influence of visual pre-cuing found that the proficiency in recognizing tactile representations of familiar objects was improved by a visual precursor, i.e., preliminary visual training aimed at visual pre-cuing. 3 Moreover, Lobb 4 found that preliminary visual training also improved proficiency in recognizing primary tactile shapes, while Millar 5 found that the proficiency in recognizing unfamiliar tactile shapes improved when visual cues were added. Third, previous research focused on the influence of tactual pre-cuing found that proficiency in recognizing tactile representations of familiar objects was improved by a tactual precursor, i.e., preliminary tactual training aimed at (re)activating a visiontouch link, thus tactual pre-cuing.…”

“…Third, previous research focused on the influence of tactual pre-cuing found that proficiency in recognizing tactile representations of familiar objects was improved by a tactual precursor, i.e., preliminary tactual training aimed at (re)activating a visiontouch link, thus tactual pre-cuing. 3 Indeed, previous research has suggested that a cognitive vision-touch convergence, pathway, or link must certainly exist (1) in memory (see e.g., Cornoldi & Vecchi, 6 Klatzky & Lederman, 7 Kosslyn, 8 and Millar 9 ) and (2) during coding. 10 Such a vision-touch link may, under normal conditions, improve recognition proficiency.…”