Implicit task sequence learning with auditory stimuli

• Published in: Journal of cognitive psychology (Hove, England) England), 2012-06, Vol.24 (4), p.468-475
• Main Authors: Weiermann, Brigitte, Meier, Beat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Auditory discrimination learning; Auditory stimuli; Classification; Cognitive ability; Correlated sequences; Incidental learning; Learning; Task switching; Visual stimuli
• ISSN: 2044-5911; 2044-592X
• DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2011.653339

We investigated implicit task sequence learning with auditory stimuli. In previous studies only visual stimuli have been used and thus learning may have been due to visuoperceptual learning. Further, we explored the generality of the correlated streams account which holds that correlated streams of information are necessary for implicit sequence learning to occur. We used three classification tasks with auditory stimuli. The presence or absence of a task sequence was orthogonally manipulated with that of a response sequence. Sequence-specific learning was found, but only in the condition with both a task and a response sequence. No learning was found in the conditions with a single task sequence and with a single response sequence. These results show that task-response sequence learning occurs with auditory stimuli and that visuoperceptual learning is not necessary. Moreover, they underscore the importance of correlated streams of information for implicit sequence learning.