Cross-dimensional magnitude interactions arise from memory interference

Magnitudes from different dimensions (e.g., space and time) interact with each other in perception, but how these interactions occur remains unclear. In four experiments, we investigated whether cross-dimensional magnitude interactions arise from memory interference. In Experiment 1, participants perceived a constant-length line consisting of two line segments of complementary lengths and presented for a variable stimulus duration; then they received a cue about which of the two segment lengths to later reproduce. Participants were to first reproduce the stimulus duration and then the cued length. Reproduced durations increased as a function of the cued length if the cue was given before duration was retrieved from memory for reproduction (i.e. before duration reproduction; Experiment 1) but not if it was given after the duration memory had been retrieved from memory (i.e. after the start of duration reproduction; Experiment 2). These findings demonstrate that space-time interaction arises as a result of memory interference when length and duration information co-exist in working memory. Experiment 3 further demonstrated spatial interference on duration memories from memories of filled lengths (i.e. solid line segments) but not from noisier memories of unfilled lengths (demarcated empty spatial intervals), thus highlighting the role of memory noise in space-time interaction. Finally, Experiment 4 showed that time also exerted memory interference on space when space was presented as (relatively noisy) unfilled lengths. Taken together, these findings suggest that cross-dimensional magnitude interactions arise as a result of memory interference and the extent and direction of the interaction depend on the relative memory noises of the target and interfering dimensions. We propose a Bayesian model whereby the estimation of a magnitude is based on the integration of the noisily encoded percept of the target magnitude and the prior knowledge that magnitudes co-vary across dimensions (e.g., space and time). We discuss implications for cross-dimensional magnitude interactions in general

Cross-dimensional magnitude interactions arise from memory interference (in press, Cognitive Psychology)

Magnitude information from different dimensions (e.g., space and time) interact with each other in perception, but how they occur remains unclear. In five experiments, the present study investigated whether these interactions arise from cross-dimensional encoding or memory interference. In Experiment 1, participants perceived a duration and two concurrent distances, were cued which distance to later reproduce, and reproduced the duration and then the cued distance. Reproduced duration increased as a function of the cued distance (replicated in Experiment 3), suggesting the duration memory can be biased by the memory of the cued distance. Experiment 2 showed the memory interference disappeared when the to-be-reproduced distance was cued when the duration memory had been retrieved (i.e. cued at reproduction). Experiment 4 demonstrated a similar memory interference for the time-on-space effect (replicated in Experiment 5). Experiments 3 and 5 additionally showed that cross-dimensional memory interference was modulated by memory noise: noisier unfilled distance, compared to less noisy filled distance, biased duration to a greater extent but was itself biased to a lesser extent. These findings suggest that the direction and extent of cross-dimensional memory interference depend on the relative memory noise of the target interfering dimensions. We proposed a Bayesian account whereby the inference (e.g., reproduction) of a magnitude is determined by integrating our prior experience that magnitudes co-vary across dimensions (e.g., space and time) and the encoded memory of the magnitude dimensions, each with a certain level of noise. We discussed the implications for cross-dimensional magnitude interactions in general

A cross-linguistic study of metaphors of death

The avoidance of directly addressing human mortality indicates fear of death. This fear elicits psychological, social and religious interdictions in language such that people resort to the use of metaphors to avoid confronting death. Under the premise that metaphor is a conceptual mapping from a concrete source to an abstract target domain, this study aims to identify and categorize euphemistic metaphors of death in six languages: Chinese, Farsi, Gĩkũyũ, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. Those metaphors are interpreted via the Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT). In doing so, 40 speakers in each of the languages were asked to complete a short questionnaire. Various metaphors of death were identified in each language and categorized into four conceptual metaphors: DEATH IS A JOURNEY; DEATH IS THE END; DEATH IS A REST; and DEATH IS A SUMMONS. The key finding is that the most common metaphor of death is DEATH IS A JOURNEY. This holds across linguistic groups regardless of gender and age factors. This study also discusses the role of embodied cognition theories in accounting for how metaphors of death are created and their role within cognition in general.Fil: Gatambuki, Gathigia, Moses. Karatina University; KeniaFil: Wang, Ruiming. South China Normal University; República de ChinaFil: Shen, Manqiong. South China Normal University; República de ChinaFil: Tirado, Carlos. Stockholms Universitet; SueciaFil: Tsaregorodtseva, Oksana. National Research Tomsk State University; RusiaFil: Khatin Zadeh, Omid. Chabahar Maritime University; IránFil: Minervino, Ricardo Adrian. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto Patagónico de Estudios de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto Patagónico de Estudios de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Ramos, Fernando. University of Adelaide; Australi