Individual differences in mode of processing in visual asymmetry tasks

Abstract

Three experiments were carried out to investigate whether individual differences in the perceptual factors of Closure speed (Cs) and Closure flexibility (Cf) are related to patterns of visual asymmetry. It was predicted that high-Cs subjects would demonstrate a relatively greater readiness for wholistic processing, whereas high-Cf subjects would show a relatively greater readiness for analytic processing. Subjects were administered a battery of perceptual tests. On the basis of their factor scores, forty subjects were assigned to one of four groups: low-Cs, high-Cs, low-Cf and high-Cf. Each subject participated in three tachistoscopic tasks: one verbal recall task and two binary classification tasks with visuo-spatial material. From previous studies, these tasks appeared to foster either analytic or configurational processing. The results indicated that the interaction between individual differences in proficiency in wholistic and analytic processing and task characteristics may be of great importance in the way in which the left and right hemispheres are involved in the processing of visual stimuli.