Inter-Manual Transfer of Tactual Learning as a Function of Stimulus Meaningfulness 1

Abstract

32 Ss were initially exposed to wooden shapes of both high and low meaningfulness. Two shapes were presented to the left hand and 2 were presented to the right hand, each for 5 sec. Each shape was presented twice. Vision was blocked and verbal mediation was minimized. Following initial exposure, Ss were tested for recognition of the shapes previously presented. Eight shapes were presented to one hand, each for 5 sec. Two shapes had previously been presented to the opposite hand, 2 had previously been presented to the same hand, and 4 had never before been presented. Half the Ss were exposed to and tested with low followed by high meaningful shapes; half were tested in the reverse sequence. Though there was generally inferior recognition of the low meaningful shapes, both high and low meaningful shapes initially exposed to the opposite hand were recognized as frequently as those initially exposed to the same hand. The results indicated that transmission of tactual information via the corpus callosum was independent of task difficulty.