The effect of prior experience on recognition thresholds for plane-disoriented pictures of familiar objects

We investigated plane rotation effects on the minimum presentation duration that is required in order to recognize pictures of familiar objects, using the method of ascending limits. Subjects made unspeeded verification respo nses, selecting from 126 written alternatives. Replicating similar identifi cation studies in which brief, masked pictures (Lawson & Jolicoeur, 1998) w ere presented, disorientation reduced the efficiency of recognition. Mirror ing the findings in speeded picture naming studies (e.g., Jolicoew, 1985; J olicoeur & Milliken, 1989), but in contrast to those of Lawson and Jolicoeu r (1998), orientation effects were found over a wide range of views and wer e attenuated but not eliminated with experience with a given object. The re sults bridge the findings from unspeeded verification and speeded naming ta sks. They suggest that the same orientation-sensitive processes are tapped in both cases, and that practice effects on these processes are object spec ific.