The probabilistic and dynamic nature of perception in human generalization behavior

Summary: Generalization theories traditionally overlook how our mental representations dynamically change in the process of transferring learned knowledge to new contexts. We integrated perceptual and generalization theories into a computational model using data from 80 participants who underwent Pa...

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Main Authors: Kenny Yu, Wolf Vanpaemel, Francis Tuerlinckx, Jonas Zaman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:iScience
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225004894
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author Kenny Yu
Wolf Vanpaemel
Francis Tuerlinckx
Jonas Zaman
author_facet Kenny Yu
Wolf Vanpaemel
Francis Tuerlinckx
Jonas Zaman
author_sort Kenny Yu
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Generalization theories traditionally overlook how our mental representations dynamically change in the process of transferring learned knowledge to new contexts. We integrated perceptual and generalization theories into a computational model using data from 80 participants who underwent Pavlovian fear conditioning experiments. The model analyzed continuous measures of perception and fear generalization to understand their relationship. Our findings revealed large individual variations in perceptual processes that directly influence generalization patterns. By examining how perceptual and generalization mechanisms work together, we uncovered their combined role in producing generalization behavior. This research illuminates the probabilistic perceptual foundations underlying individual differences in generalization, emphasizing the crucial integration between perceptual and generalization processes. Understanding this relationship enhances our knowledge of generalization behavior and has potential implications for various cognitive domains including categorization, motor learning, language processing, and face recognition—all of which rely on generalization as a fundamental cognitive process.
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spelling doaj-art-b6a602b2fd004fc798c22f68dfa440992025-08-20T02:49:20ZengElsevieriScience2589-00422025-04-0128411222810.1016/j.isci.2025.112228The probabilistic and dynamic nature of perception in human generalization behaviorKenny Yu0Wolf Vanpaemel1Francis Tuerlinckx2Jonas Zaman3Quantitative Psychology and Individual Differences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Corresponding authorQuantitative Psychology and Individual Differences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, BelgiumQuantitative Psychology and Individual Differences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, BelgiumREVAL Rehabilitation Research, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, UHasselt, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Centre for Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Duisburg, GermanySummary: Generalization theories traditionally overlook how our mental representations dynamically change in the process of transferring learned knowledge to new contexts. We integrated perceptual and generalization theories into a computational model using data from 80 participants who underwent Pavlovian fear conditioning experiments. The model analyzed continuous measures of perception and fear generalization to understand their relationship. Our findings revealed large individual variations in perceptual processes that directly influence generalization patterns. By examining how perceptual and generalization mechanisms work together, we uncovered their combined role in producing generalization behavior. This research illuminates the probabilistic perceptual foundations underlying individual differences in generalization, emphasizing the crucial integration between perceptual and generalization processes. Understanding this relationship enhances our knowledge of generalization behavior and has potential implications for various cognitive domains including categorization, motor learning, language processing, and face recognition—all of which rely on generalization as a fundamental cognitive process.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225004894Social sciencesPsychology
spellingShingle Kenny Yu
Wolf Vanpaemel
Francis Tuerlinckx
Jonas Zaman
The probabilistic and dynamic nature of perception in human generalization behavior
iScience
Social sciences
Psychology
title The probabilistic and dynamic nature of perception in human generalization behavior
title_full The probabilistic and dynamic nature of perception in human generalization behavior
title_fullStr The probabilistic and dynamic nature of perception in human generalization behavior
title_full_unstemmed The probabilistic and dynamic nature of perception in human generalization behavior
title_short The probabilistic and dynamic nature of perception in human generalization behavior
title_sort probabilistic and dynamic nature of perception in human generalization behavior
topic Social sciences
Psychology
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225004894
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