Triad Classification Research Articles

Research on Multirelational Entity Modeling based on Knowledge Graph Representation Learning

Background: A research concern revolves around as to what can make the representation of entities and relationships fully integrate the structural information of the knowledge atlas to solve the entity modeling capability in complex relationships. World knowledge can be organized into a structured knowledge network by mining entity and relationship information in real texts. In order to apply the rich structured information in the knowledge map to downstream applications, it is particularly important to express and learn the knowledge map. In the knowledge atlas with expanding scale and more diversified knowledge sources, there are many types of relationships with complex types. The frequency of a single relationship in all triples is further reduced, which increases the difficulty of relational reasoning. Thus, this study aimed to improve the accuracy of relational reasoning and entity reasoning in complex relational models. Methods: For the multi-relational knowledge map, CTransR based on the TransE model and TransR model adopts the idea of piecewise linear regression to cluster the potential relationships between head and tail entities, and establishes a vector representation for each cluster separately, so that the same relationship represented by different clusters still has a certain degree of similarity. Results: The CTransR model carried out knowledge reasoning experiments in the open dataset, and achieved good performance. Conclusion: The CTransR model is highly effective and progressive for complex relationships. In this experiment, we have evaluated the model, including link prediction, triad classification, and text relationship extraction. The results show that the CTransR model has achieved significant improvement.

Examining Neural Dynamics During Dimensional Label Comprehension and Production as a Function of Dimensional Attention

ABSTRACT Previous research suggests that children’s ability to label visual features (e.g. “red”) and dimensions (e.g. “color”) impacts attention to visual dimensions. The goal of this study is to investigate variations in the quality of the neural system supporting dimensional label comprehension and production in relation to children’s dimensional attention skills. The current study recruited 3- to 4-year-old from the East Tennessee area to complete dimensional label tasks for color labels while recording functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in order to measure hemodynamic changes in left frontal, left parietal, and left temporal cortices previously implicated in dimensional attention. Different aspects of dimensional attention were evaluated using the dimensional priming task (measuring attentional stability), the dimensional change card sort (DCCS) task (measuring flexible dimensional attention), the triad classification task (measuring selective attention), and the matching task (measuring dimensional understanding). Dimensional label learning was measured using a color Production and color Comprehension task. Results indicated that the temporal cortex was activated during the dimensional label tasks. Further, we found that activation in parietal cortex during the dimensional label tasks increased with better performance on the dimensional attention tasks. On the other hand, activation in the temporal cortex and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex during the dimensional label tasks decreased with better performance on the dimensional attention tasks. These results suggest that dimensional attention skills can reveal variations in the quality of neural representations supporting dimensional label learning.

Three Distinct Groups of Phenotype Severity in Beta-Thalassemia

Background Thalassemia Syndromes (TS) are commonly classified as transfusion-dependent-thalassemia (TDT) or non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT) at diagnosis on the basis of requirement for lifelong regular transfusion therapy for survival. However, data from observational studies and expert opinion suggest that these categories may reflect a wide spectrum rather than a dichotomy, and may actually be interchangeable at many parts of the disease journey. Thus, an evaluation of alternate clusters to classify TS patients remains of merit. Aims The aim of this study was to cluster TS patients on the basis of possible clinical indicators of phenotype severity (IPhS) using suitable algorithms and to determine whether these are able to detect cohorts with different clinical phenotypes. Methods Representatives from thirteen international centers from seven countries agreed on 19 IPhS to be collected for a retrospective study. Data from 7910 TS patients were collected. NbClust R Packagewas performed for exploring the existence of a substructure inside the studied TS population, determining the best number of clusters. Unsupervised Random Forest (RF)clustering and the Partitioning Around Medoids (PAM)algorithms were performed to define the clusters. The most important IPhS in defining clusters were selected according to the Gini index. Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curves of the identified clusters, defined by the selected IPhS, were used to represent the risk of death for these clusters. Results NbClust method showed the existence of three possible clusters. The RF-PAM procedure defined three distinct clusters with a classification error rate of 4.3% (Fig 1). Moreover, the most important IPhS were patient age, mean serum ferritin level, age at diagnosis, age at first transfusion, age at first iron chelation, and number of complications. K-M curves showed statistically significant differences in survival among the three clusters (p<0.0001,Fig 2a) but not between the original classification of NTDT and TDT (p=0.0651, Fig 2b). Conclusions The observation of statistically significant differences in survival between the three newly identified clusters but not the original TDT-NTDT classification confirms that the latter classification is interchangeable, and a new triad classification system is required. These findings warrant further evaluation in prospective studies to determine specific thresholds for IPhs indicators that can aid physicians in assigning classes and tailoring care, in order to improve survival in TS patients. Disclosures Meloni: Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.: Other: speakers' honoraria. Pistoia:Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.: Other: speakers' honoraria. Vichinsky:Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; GBT: Consultancy, Research Funding.

Identification of mRNA and non-coding RNA hubs using network analysis in organ tropism regulated triple negative breast cancer metastasis

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is aggressive in nature, resistant to conventional therapy and often ends in organ specific metastasis. In this study, publicly available datasets were used to identify miRNA, mRNA and lncRNA hubs. Using validated mRNA-miRNA, mRNA-mRNA and lncRNA-miRNA interaction information obtained from various databases, RNA interaction networks for TNBC and its subtype specific as well as organ tropism regulated metastasis were generated. Further, miRNA-mRNA-lncRNA triad classification was performed using social network analysis from subnetworks and visualized using Cytoscape. Survival analysis of the RNA hubs, oncoprint analysis for mRNAs and pathway analysis of the lncRNAs were also performed. Results indicated that two lncRNAs (NEAT1 and CASC7) and four miRNAs (hsa-miR-106b-5p, hsa-miR-148a-3p, hsa-miR-25-3p and hsa-let-7i-5p) were common between hubs identified in TNBC and TNBC associated metastasis. The exclusive hubs for TNBC associated metastasis were hsa-miR-200b-3p, SP1, HSPA4 and RAB1B. HMGA1 was the top ranked hub in mesenchymal subtype associated lung metastasis, while hsa-miR-27a-3p was identified as the top ranked hub mRNA in luminal androgen receptor subtype associated bone metastasis. When lncRNA associated pathway analysis was performed, Hs Cytoplasmic Ribosomal Protein pathway was found to be the most significant and among the selected hubs, CTNND1, SON and hsa-miR-29c emerged as TNBC survival markers. TP53, FOXA1, MTDH and HDGF were found as the top ranked mRNAs in oncoprint analysis. The pipeline proposed for the first time in this study with validated RNA interaction data integration and graph-based learning for miRNA-mRNA-lncRNA triad classification from RNA hubs may aid experimental cost reduction and its successful execution will allow it to be extended to other diseases too.

Exploring the Neural Basis of Selective and Flexible Dimensional Attention: An fNIRS Study

ABSTRACT Between the ages of 3 and 5, children develop greater control over attention to visual dimensions. Children develop the ability to flexibly shift between visual dimensions and to selectively process specific dimensions of an object. Previous proposals have suggested that selective and flexible attention is developmentally related to one another. However, the relation between flexibility and selectivity has not been systematically probed at the behavioral and neural levels. We administered a selective attention task (triad classification) along with a flexible attention task (dimensional change card sort) with 3.5 -and 4.5-year-olds while functional near-infrared spectroscopy data were recorded. Results showed that children with high flexible attention skills engaged the bilateral frontal cortex which replicates previous studies using this task. Moreover, children with high levels of selective attention engaged the right frontal cortex. Together, these results indicate that development in the right frontal cortex is important for both flexible and selective dimensional attention.

A measure of social coordination and group signaling in the wild.

Adaptive interactions in large populations often require honest signals of group membership to structure interactions. However, limitations to a simple mapping of groups onto stylistic and ethnosomatic variation suggest that new ways of measurement are needed to describe the work that objects do to facilitate social coordination. Means to measure the benefits to coordinating on specific objects, here called signaling value, would transition inquiry from general statement that signals play a role, to which signals play what roles in what contexts. This study introduces a method to measure the signaling value of specific objects using classification tasks. After mathematically showing how social coordination leads to greater associations in object classification, a statistical approach is derived to estimate the signaling value of objects from a triad classification task. The approach is then applied to a study of culturally salient motifs in the Pacific Island nation of Tonga and a comparison group in the US. The statistical estimates suggest a large role for social coordination for the full set of motifs, although there is a substantial range of signaling values among motifs. In light of the estimates, the cultural history of individual motifs is discussed as well as the future of this approach.

Human Non-linguistic Vocal Repertoire: Call Types and Their Meaning

Recent research on human nonverbal vocalizations has led to considerable progress in our understanding of vocal communication of emotion. However, in contrast to studies of animal vocalizations, this research has focused mainly on the emotional interpretation of such signals. The repertoire of human nonverbal vocalizations as acoustic types, and the mapping between acoustic and emotional categories, thus remain underexplored. In a cross-linguistic naming task (Experiment 1), verbal categorization of 132 authentic (non-acted) human vocalizations by English-, Swedish- and Russian-speaking participants revealed the same major acoustic types: laugh, cry, scream, moan, and possibly roar and sigh. The association between call type and perceived emotion was systematic but non-redundant: listeners associated every call type with a limited, but in some cases relatively wide, range of emotions. The speed and consistency of naming the call type predicted the speed and consistency of inferring the caller’s emotion, suggesting that acoustic and emotional categorizations are closely related. However, participants preferred to name the call type before naming the emotion. Furthermore, nonverbal categorization of the same stimuli in a triad classification task (Experiment 2) was more compatible with classification by call type than by emotion, indicating the former’s greater perceptual salience. These results suggest that acoustic categorization may precede attribution of emotion, highlighting the need to distinguish between the overt form of nonverbal signals and their interpretation by the perceiver. Both within- and between-call acoustic variation can then be modeled explicitly, bringing research on human nonverbal vocalizations more in line with the work on animal communication.

Validation of the prognostic gene portfolio, ClinicoMolecular Triad Classification, using an independent prospective breast cancer cohort and external patient populations

IntroductionUsing genome-wide expression profiles of a prospective training cohort of breast cancer patients, ClinicoMolecular Triad Classification (CMTC) was recently developed to classify breast cancers into three clinically relevant groups to aid treatment decisions. CMTC was found to be both prognostic and predictive in a large external breast cancer cohort in that study. This study serves to validate the reproducibility of CMTC and its prognostic value using independent patient cohorts.MethodsAn independent internal cohort (n = 284) and a new external cohort (n = 2,181) were used to validate the association of CMTC between clinicopathological factors, 12 known gene signatures, two molecular subtype classifiers, and 19 oncogenic signalling pathway activities, and to reproduce the abilities of CMTC to predict clinical outcomes of breast cancer. In addition, we also updated the outcome data of the original training cohort (n = 147).ResultsThe original training cohort reached a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in disease-free survivals between the three CMTC groups after an additional two years of follow-up (median = 55 months). The prognostic value of the triad classification was reproduced in the second independent internal cohort and the new external validation cohort. CMTC achieved even higher prognostic significance when all available patients were analyzed (n = 4,851). Oncogenic pathways Myc, E2F1, Ras and β-catenin were again implicated in the high-risk groups.ConclusionsBoth prospective internal cohorts and the independent external cohorts reproduced the triad classification of CMTC and its prognostic significance. CMTC is an independent prognostic predictor, and it outperformed 12 other known prognostic gene signatures, molecular subtype classifications, and all other standard prognostic clinicopathological factors. Our results support further development of CMTC portfolio into a guide for personalized breast cancer treatments.

Abstract P2-10-34: Development and validation of ClinicoMolecular Triad Classification (CMTC), a platform for breast cancer (BC) prognostic and predictive gene signature portfolios.

Abstract Background: Numerous gene signatures have claimed prognostic significance in BCs. Each of these gene signatures was designed to answer a specific clinical or biological question, often by dichotomizing the targeted populations into a good and a bad risk group. None of these gene signatures on its own has sufficient degree of complexity to fully characterize this very heterogenous group of diseases, and hence lacks the flexibility to personalize treatments. To exploit the full potential of the genomic approach, we developed an 803-gene molecular classification, termed ClinicoMolecular Triad Classification (CMTC) that categorized BCs into 3 clinical treatment groups (triad) that can serve as a basic framework to guide management. CMTC also provide a detailed “portfolio” of 14 other gene signatures and 19 oncogenic pathways to allow further customization of the treatments. The ability to get CMTC portfolio results at the time of initial diagnosis offers the unique advantage of early treatment planning, including the use of pre-operative chemotherapy to improve breast conservation in selected patients. This study aimed to validate the CMTC classification using an independent BC cohort. Study design/ results: RNA from fine needle aspirates were collected in a prospective BC cohort (n = 340) between 2008 and 2010 at Princess Margaret Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, we included all newly diagnosed BC patients going for surgery who consented to join the study. DNA microarray analyses were carried out using genome-wide Illumina Human Ref-8 version 3 Beadarrays, which contained &amp;gt;24K oligonucleotide probes. After excluding tumors with low RNA yield (n = 8, success rate 97%), non-invasive cancers (n = 27), insufficient follow-up data (n = 21), CMTC divided the remaining 284 BCs into 3 similar sized groups (triad). At a median follow-up of 32 months (range 6.3–52 months), the short-term recurrence was significantly worse (p = 0.0048) in the poor prognostic groups. This result was similar to using an independent external validation cohort (n = 2100) with long-term follow-up reported before, CMTC outperformed all other gene signatures in predicting prognosis and treatment response. Discussion/conclusion: This prospective validation cohort study demonstrated reproducibility of CMTC in classifying BCs into the three major treatment groups and its prognostic significance. CMTC can be used as a platform to personalize treatments: CMTC-1 BCs (ER+, low proliferation) in general can be treated with surgery and tamoxifen alone. CMTC-2 tumours (ER+, high proliferation) will require additional treatments, including chemotherapy, in addition to tamoxifen; other biologics can be prescribed based on the activities of additional oncogenic pathways. Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered for CMTC-3 tumours (triple negative and HER2+) with addition of trastuzumab in those that show activation of the HER2 pathway. CMTC portfolio is being further developed into a genomic platform to guide personalized BC treatments.. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-10-34.

A new gene expression signature, the ClinicoMolecular Triad Classification, may improve prediction and prognostication of breast cancer at the time of diagnosis

IntroductionWhen making treatment decisions, oncologists often stratify breast cancer (BC) into a low-risk group (low-grade estrogen receptor-positive (ER+)), an intermediate-risk group (high-grade ER+) and a high-risk group that includes Her2+ and triple-negative (TN) tumors (ER-/PR-/Her2-). None of the currently available gene signatures correlates to this clinical classification. In this study, we aimed to develop a test that is practical for oncologists and offers both molecular characterization of BC and improved prediction of prognosis and treatment response.MethodsWe investigated the molecular basis of such clinical practice by grouping Her2+ and TN BC together during clustering analyses of the genome-wide gene expression profiles of our training cohort, mostly derived from fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs) of 149 consecutive evaluable BC. The analyses consistently divided these tumors into a three-cluster pattern, similarly to clinical risk stratification groups, that was reproducible in published microarray databases (n = 2,487) annotated with clinical outcomes. The clinicopathological parameters of each of these three molecular groups were also similar to clinical classification.ResultsThe low-risk group had good outcomes and benefited from endocrine therapy. Both the intermediate- and high-risk groups had poor outcomes, and their BC was resistant to endocrine therapy. The latter group demonstrated the highest rate of complete pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy; the highest activities in Myc, E2F1, Ras, β-catenin and IFN-γ pathways; and poor prognosis predicted by 14 independent prognostic signatures. On the basis of multivariate analysis, we found that this new gene signature, termed the "ClinicoMolecular Triad Classification" (CMTC), predicted recurrence and treatment response better than all pathological parameters and other prognostic signatures.ConclusionsCMTC correlates well with current clinical classifications of BC and has the potential to be easily integrated into routine clinical practice. Using FNABs, CMTC can be determined at the time of diagnostic needle biopsies for tumors of all sizes. On the basis of using public databases as the validation cohort in our analyses, CMTC appeared to enable accurate treatment guidance, could be made available in preoperative settings and was applicable to all BC types independently of tumor size and receptor and nodal status. The unique oncogenic signaling pathway pattern of each CMTC group may provide guidance in the development of new treatment strategies. Further validation of CMTC requires prospective, randomized, controlled trials.

Multidimensional shape similarity in the development of visual object classification

The current work examined age differences in the classification of novel object images that vary in continuous dimensions of structural shape. The structural dimensions employed are two that share a privileged status in the visual analysis and representation of objects: the shape of discrete prominent parts and the attachment positions of those parts. Experiment 1 involved a triad classification task in which participants at each of three different ages (5 years, 8 years, and adult) classified object images from two distinct stimulus sets. Across both sets, the youngest children demonstrated a systematic bias toward the shape of discrete parts during their judgments. With increasing age, participants increasingly came to select both the shape and the position of parts when classifying the images. The findings from Experiment 2 indicate that the local shape bias observed in young children’s classifications is not merely a consequence of a discrimination advantage for that dimension. Results are discussed in relation to corresponding age-related changes in other functional contexts of visual processing.

Rules and development in triad classification task performance

Rule use in perceptual classification was investigated in adults and in 4- to 12-year-old children. Two studies of performance on triad classification tasks with large samples ( N=226 and N=328) are presented to (a) contrast theoretical predictions from the holistic-to-analytic-shift theory ( Smith & Kemler, 1977) and the differential-sensitivity account ( Cook & Odom, 1992), and (b) to contrast findings with Thompson's (1994) rule analysis technique with latent class analysis (LCA). The findings, which demonstrate the value of LCA in this context, support the differential-sensitivity account, but not the holistic-to-analytic-shift theory. All resulting latent class models included two one-dimensional classification rules, but no holistic and no identity rules. In addition, a small, but significant number of children and adults failed to show systematic rule use, even with increased salience of dimensional differences. Furthermore, developmental effects were found primarily with respect to the type of dimensions, to which the children attended. As children develop from 4 to 12 years, the dominant dimension is first brightness, then size, and finally, towards the age of 12, orientation.

The Lenke classification of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: how it organizes curve patterns as a template to perform selective fusions of the spine.

Retrospective radiographic review. To analyze how the Lenke classification of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis provides a template of specific curve patterns that may be appropriate to perform selective fusion of the spine. A new triad classification system of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis has been developed. It consists of a curve type, a lumbar spine modifier (A, B, C), and a sagittal thoracic modifier (-, N, +). A selective fusion is termed when both the thoracic and thoracolumbar/lumbar curves deviate completely from the midline, but only the major curve (largest Cobb measurement) is fused, leaving the minor curve unfused and mobile. In this manner, selective thoracic fusions of the spine are potentially indicated for major main thoracic/minor lumbar curves (Types 1C and potentially 2C and 3C patterns) when the lumbar apex deviates off the center sacral vertical line. Conversely, selective thoracolumbar/lumbar fusions may be indicated for major thoracolumbar/lumbar-minor main thoracic curves, when the thoracic apex lies off the C7 plumbline (Type 5C and potentially 6C patterns). Importantly, additional analysis of ratios of structural characteristics between the main thoracic and thoracolumbar/lumbar curves are necessary to predict when a successful selective main thoracic or thoracolumbar/lumbar fusion will be feasible. Lastly, the clinical appearance of the patient's truncal alignment is essential to confirm the aspirations of performing a selective spinal fusion. Successful selective thoracic fusion of 1C (n = 36) and 2C (n = 8) curves have been performed in 44 consecutive patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The average thoracic curve was 61 degrees before surgery and 39 degrees at final follow-up. The average preoperative lumbar curve was 48 degrees, decreasing to 32 degrees postoperatively. A group of 21 consecutive patients with Type 5C or 6C major thoracolumbar/lumbar-minor main thoracic curves underwent a selective thoracolumbar/lumbar fusion. The average preoperative thoracolumbar/lumbar curve was 56 degrees corrected to 22 degrees at the 2-year follow-up. The average minor main thoracic curve preoperative was 38 degrees, with spontaneous correction to 28 degrees at 2 years postoperative. Selective thoracic or thoracolumbar/lumbar fusion can be successfully performed in a variety of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis curve patterns. Careful attention to the preoperative Lenke curve classification, analysis of structural characteristics between the planned instrumented and noninstrumented regions of the spine, as well as a documented clinical examination that confirms the planned instrumented and fused regions of the spine to be the most clinically prominent are essential features to determine before surgery. No patients undergoing selective thoracic fusion have required extension of the fusion to the lumbar spine, whereas one patient with a selective thoracolumbar fusion required extension of the fusion up to include the thoracic spine due to continued thoracic progression with growth. Selective thoracic or thoracolumbar/lumbar fusions of the major curve can be successfully performed even when the minor curve completely deviates from the midline, based on the Lenke classification system, the analysis of structural criteria between the planned fused and unfused regions of the spine, and the clinical examination of the patient. Selective fusions, when successfully performed, will optimize mobile segments of the spine in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Curve Prevalence of a New Classification of Operative Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

A retrospective multicenter consecutive case review of operative adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. To define the curve prevalence of a large consecutive series of cases with operative adolescent idiopathic scoliosis as classified by a new system and to test the ability of this new classification system to correlate with regions of the scoliotic spine to be instrumented/fused. A new comprehensive, two-dimensional classification system, intended to be treatment based, has been developed. However, it has not been tested whether all presenting operative cases of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis are classifiable in a large consecutive series, nor has the prevalence of specific curve types been determined. In addition, it is unknown whether this classification is truly treatment based, as to whether it can correlate with regions of the spine to be instrumented/fused. A multicenter retrospective review of 606 consecutive operative cases of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was performed. All cases were classified by a new triad classification system, which included the following: a curve type (1-6), a lumbar spine modifier (A, B, C), and a sagittal thoracic modifier (-, N, +). Prevalence of the individual three components of the system and the classification grouping of all three components together were performed. In addition, the authors assessed whether this system could correlate with regions of the spine that should be included in the instrumentation and fusion, based on exactly which regions were fused during the operative procedure. All 606 cases were classifiable by this system. Prevalence of the six curve types noted was as follows: Type 1, main thoracic (n = 305, 51%); Type 2, double thoracic (n = 118, 20%); Type 3, double major (n = 69, 11%); Type 4, triple major (n = 19, 3%); Type 5, thoracolumbar/lumbar (n = 74, 12%); and Type 6, thoracolumbar/lumbar-main thoracic (n = 17, 3%). The five most common curve classifications noted were as follows: 1AN, 1BN, 2AN, 5CN, and 1CN, which accounted for 58% of all curve classifications noted. An average of 90% of the operative cases had surgically structural regions of the spine included in the instrumentation and fusion as predicted by the curve type. A new comprehensive classification system for operative adolescent idiopathic scoliosis found all 606 consecutive cases of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis classifiable, with the Type 1, main thoracic curve pattern, the most common curve type found (51%). This new classification system appears to correlate with treatment of surgically structural regions of the spine fused in 90% of cases by the objective radiographic criteria used.

Developmental Changes in the Effect of Dimensional Salience on the Discriminability of Object Relations

Two experiments explored three issues regarding the nature of perceptual development in 5- and 10-year-old children and adults: (a) the role of featural discriminability, (b) the facilitatory role of identity relations, and (c) the role of salience in a task context designed to minimize the likelihood of attention-switching between dimensions during perceptual processing. In Experiment 1, perceptual salience for size and achromatic color dimensions was determined for each participant based on their best-fitting triad classification task response pattern. These same persons participated in Experiment 2, which employed a speeded visual discrimination task. The primary finding was that preassessed salience significantly influenced the 5-year-olds' ability to discriminate between two objects, while salience did not affect 10-year-olds' or adults' response times. The results of both experiments support Odom & Cook's (1992) differential-sensitivity view of perceptual development, but these data contribute important information by showing that salience effects in perceptual processing occur even when the observer is selectively attending to a particular dimension, likely during early component processes prior to classification.

Perception of size and lightness of human observers: two criteria for holistic and analytic processing show no correlation in individuals

Results of a triad-classification task and a multidimensional-scaling (MDS) experiment are compared for individual observers. Both paradigms are designed to reveal whether stimuli are perceived in a holistic or analytic manner (Garner 1974). Subjects differed substantially and consistently in their triad classification pattern. The majority of subjects selected stimuli according to dimensional criteria; this classification type is thought to indicate an analytic stimulus processing. Approximately one third of subjects, however, used a classification according to overall similarity (indicating holistic processing). Except for the very first session, virtually no intermediate classification occurred. This clear separation into two classification types suggests that there actually exist two strongly preferred processing modes. Intraindividual variability between sessions in general was small. In one case, however, a spontaneous switching from a purely dimensional classification to a purely similarity classification occurred. This indicates that the observers have different processing options at their disposal, and are not forced to use a particular processing mode by the stimulus type--as has been supposed in the original concept of integrality/separability of stimuli (Garner 1974). In the MDS experiment also substantial interindividual differences in the "best-fitting" Minkowski metric were found, indicating different processing types. However, for individuals participating in both experiments, there was no correlation between the results of the two experimental paradigms. This is interpreted as a result of the subject's ability to choose between a few perceptual-processing options.