Explicit Associative Learning and Memory in Synesthetes and Nonsynesthetes
Most current theories regarding the development of synesthesia focus on cross-modal neural connections and genetic underpinnings, but recent evidence has revitalized the potential role of associative learning. In the present study, we compared synesthetes’ and controls’ ability to explicitly learn s...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2016-09-01
|
| Series: | i-Perception |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2041669516658488 |
| _version_ | 1818129114678165504 |
|---|---|
| author | Kaitlyn R. Bankieris Richard N. Aslin |
| author_facet | Kaitlyn R. Bankieris Richard N. Aslin |
| author_sort | Kaitlyn R. Bankieris |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Most current theories regarding the development of synesthesia focus on cross-modal neural connections and genetic underpinnings, but recent evidence has revitalized the potential role of associative learning. In the present study, we compared synesthetes’ and controls’ ability to explicitly learn shape-color pairings. Using a continuous measure of accuracy and multiple testing blocks, we found that synesthetes learned these pairings faster than controls. In a delayed retest, synesthetes outperformed controls, demonstrating enhanced long-term memory for shape–color associations. Following this retest, participants learned shuffled associations, and we found little evidence for group differences in subsequent learning ability. Overall, our findings support the hypothesis that synesthetes have exceptional associative learning abilities and further specify that this advantage pertains to the initial learning rate and long-term retention of associations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T07:44:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d050538a96f466ab1c1501101c07d21 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-6695 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T07:44:00Z |
| publishDate | 2016-09-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | i-Perception |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d050538a96f466ab1c1501101c07d212022-12-22T01:15:29ZengSAGE Publishingi-Perception2041-66952016-09-01710.1177/2041669516658488Explicit Associative Learning and Memory in Synesthetes and NonsynesthetesKaitlyn R. BankierisRichard N. AslinMost current theories regarding the development of synesthesia focus on cross-modal neural connections and genetic underpinnings, but recent evidence has revitalized the potential role of associative learning. In the present study, we compared synesthetes’ and controls’ ability to explicitly learn shape-color pairings. Using a continuous measure of accuracy and multiple testing blocks, we found that synesthetes learned these pairings faster than controls. In a delayed retest, synesthetes outperformed controls, demonstrating enhanced long-term memory for shape–color associations. Following this retest, participants learned shuffled associations, and we found little evidence for group differences in subsequent learning ability. Overall, our findings support the hypothesis that synesthetes have exceptional associative learning abilities and further specify that this advantage pertains to the initial learning rate and long-term retention of associations.https://doi.org/10.1177/2041669516658488 |
| spellingShingle | Kaitlyn R. Bankieris Richard N. Aslin Explicit Associative Learning and Memory in Synesthetes and Nonsynesthetes i-Perception |
| title | Explicit Associative Learning and Memory in Synesthetes and Nonsynesthetes |
| title_full | Explicit Associative Learning and Memory in Synesthetes and Nonsynesthetes |
| title_fullStr | Explicit Associative Learning and Memory in Synesthetes and Nonsynesthetes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Explicit Associative Learning and Memory in Synesthetes and Nonsynesthetes |
| title_short | Explicit Associative Learning and Memory in Synesthetes and Nonsynesthetes |
| title_sort | explicit associative learning and memory in synesthetes and nonsynesthetes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2041669516658488 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kaitlynrbankieris explicitassociativelearningandmemoryinsynesthetesandnonsynesthetes AT richardnaslin explicitassociativelearningandmemoryinsynesthetesandnonsynesthetes |