The Perception and Learning of Temporal Patterns

Subjects observed sequences of stimuli generated by the repetition of temporal patterns formed of eight elements, each element being a binary event. Rate of presentation varied from 0.8 to 8.0 elements per sec.; stimuli were either visual or auditory; there were 10 different basic patterns; and for each basic pattern there were a preferred and a non-preferred starting pattern. Subjects observed as long as necessary in order to give a verbal description of the pattern after terminating it. Difficulty (measured by observation time and accuracy of description) was related to basic pattern and generally increased with increased rate. Differences due to starting pattern were found only at low rates, while differences due to modality were found only at high rates. Similar effects were obtained with respect to pattern description. These consistently different effects of starting pattern and modality at low and high rates require a distinction between pattern perception at higher rates, which is phenomenally integrated, immediate, compelling and passive, and pattern learning at lower rates, which is unintegrated, derived, intellectualized and active. Even though a distinction between perception and learning is necessary, similar principles of pattern organization operate for both.