Barry Dauphin*,Harold H. Greene, MindeeJuve, MellisaA. Boyle and Ellen F. Day
Preliminary fMRI research has suggested that both bistable figure reversal and Symbol Search (a measure of processing speed) utilize the same neural pathways during task execution, namely the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The fMRI findings predict a positive relationship between Symbol Search (SS) and bistable figure reversal (BFR). In Study 1, a bistable Necker Cube and the My Wife/My Mother-in-law figure were presented on cards, and participants indicated reversals by tapping on a table. The frequency of perceptual reversals was positively correlated with performance on SS (WAIS-III) but not with Picture Completion scores (a measure of visual processing). In Study 2 the Necker Cube was presented on a computer screen, and eye movements were monitored. Participants indicated reversals by pressing a response button. Again, the frequency of perceptual reversals of the Necker Cube was positively correlated with performance on SS (WAIS-IV, this time). No correlation was found with looking strategy, as indexed by eye movement variables. The present study provides incremental validity for interpreting and highlighting SS as a measure of attention and working memory.