Do Cognitive Styles Affect Psychophysical Tasks Performance?

Abstract

Background. In order to deepen understanding of signal detection/discrimination processes we have to focus on highlighting individual differences in observers’ sensory performance due to the contribution of various variables of personality and cognition spheres. The purpose of our study was to test cognitive style factors (augmenting-reducing, levelling-sharpening, flexibility-rigidity of cognitive control, equivalence range, and focusing-scanning) influencing performance of psychophysical tasks. Methods. Ninety participants performed a set of cognitive style tests as well as two psychophysical tasks on visual signal detection (‘yes-no’) and loudness discrimination (‘same-different’). The duration of visual pattern presentation and difference between pairs of auditory stimuli were used to provide task’s difficulty level, and therefore the level of uncertainty. Results. Data analysis showed several effects of cognitive styles on psychophysical tasks performance indices, in particular: sensory sensitivity, RT and its stability, and response confidence. According to our results, each style is related to its own benefits and advantages in observer’s overall productivity. Furthermore, the contribution of cognitive styles differed depending on task’s type and difficulty level. Conclusions. Our results support current findings, considering cognitive styles as playing a regulative role in cognitive activity. Hence, they could be acknowledged as tools, mediating individual strategies, representing different ways of coping with perceptual uncertainty.