Age Comparison of Feature and Identity Binding in Object Files on an Object Recognition Task

Abstract

The current study focuses on the content of"object files". This experiment intended to replicate the results of a previous experiment, along with exploring the possibilities of an age difference in the results. The previous study found evidence supporting the idea that features are included in an object file, which is a representation of what is perceived in the visual field. Participants saw two numbers enclosed in different colored shapes that traveled across the computer screen. In the final frame, one of the numbers disappeared, and the participants had to identify the remaining number. The conditions included: Identity remaining the same and features remaining the same (IDsFs ), identity remaining the same and features changing (IDsFd), identity changing and features staying the same (IDdFs), and identity changing and features changing (IDdFd). An added manipulation was that each condition could also happen in an alternating pattern (i.e. red circle, 3, red circle, 3, ... target numeral 3 inside red circle). Participants did progressively worse in the condition orders of IDsFs, IDsFd, IDdFd, and IDdFs and this pattern held for both the combined and alternating trials. No significant difference was found in age (mean score for college students was 82.4% correct and the mean score for 37-52 year-olds was 79.8% correct). The results support the idea that features may be included in "object files".