Cohen Zahira Z, Aisenberg Daniela, Henik Avishai
Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Psychol Res. 2018 May;82(3):468-487. doi: 10.1007/s00426-016-0835-5. Epub 2016 Dec 26.
Subitizing is a fast and accurate process of enumerating small quantities. Whether subitizing carried out in the tactile modality is under debate. We previously found a moderately increasing RT slope from one to four stimuli and a large decrease in RT for five stimuli when using one hand. Yet, a high error rate was observed, making it difficult to determine if the RT pattern found was indeed subitizing. To increase accuracy, we carried out training of the tactile enumeration task using one hand for 6 days. We compared performance in the trained and additional non-trained tasks between two groups-the 6-day training group (6DT) and the non-trained controls (C)-after three periods (1 week, 1 and 6 months after the training of the 6DT group ended). Results showed an increase in accuracy rates for both groups but a decrease in RT for the 6DT group only for the trained task. This RT improvement was present even after 6 months. Importantly, the RT slope of one-hand enumeration did not change after training, showing a moderately increased slope up to four stimuli and a decrease for five stimuli. Our study shows the training long-term effect on tactile enumeration and emphasizes the embodiment of finger counting on enumeration. Two possible enumeration processes are discussed-accelerated counting and subitizing-both based on spatial cues and pattern recognition of familiarized finger-counting patterns.
数感是一种快速且准确地清点少量物体的过程。在触觉模式下是否存在数感仍存在争议。我们之前发现，当用一只手操作时，从一个刺激物到四个刺激物，反应时间（RT）斜率呈适度增加，而对于五个刺激物，RT大幅下降。然而，观察到错误率很高，这使得难以确定所发现的RT模式是否确实为数感。为了提高准确性，我们用一只手进行了为期6天的触觉计数任务训练。在6天训练组（6DT）结束训练后的三个时间段（1周、1个月和6个月），我们比较了两组——6天训练组（6DT）和未训练对照组（C）——在训练任务和额外未训练任务中的表现。结果显示，两组的准确率均有所提高，但仅6DT组在训练任务中的RT下降。即使在6个月后，这种RT的改善仍然存在。重要的是，单手计数的RT斜率在训练后没有变化，显示出在四个刺激物之前斜率适度增加，在五个刺激物时下降。我们的研究显示了训练对触觉计数的长期影响，并强调了手指计数在计数中的体现。讨论了两种可能的计数过程——加速计数和数感——两者都基于空间线索和对熟悉的手指计数模式的模式识别。
