Hiu Mei Chow & Vivian M. Ciaramitaro

Changing contributions from shape contour, protrusion number andWhat makes a shape /baba/ to a child versus an adult?

protrusion size in sound-shape correspondence

Psychology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA

INTRODUCTION

GENERAL METHOD

EXP1: Two-Interval Forced Choice

EXP2: Two-Alternative Forced Choice CONCLUSION

Abbreviated References: Chen et al., (2016). Sci. Rep. Dukette & Stiles (2001). Dev. Sci. Nayar et al., (2015). J Exp Child PsycholPoirel et al., (2008). Dev. Psychol Poirel et al., (2011). PLoS ONE.

Sound-shape correspondence is the association between abstract shapes and sounds. One example is the bouba/kiki

associated with a sound like /bouba/ whereas a spikey shape is associated with a sound like /kiki/. Shape features like contour and the number and size of

relevant visual features. The weight assigned to a particular visual feature can vary based on the perceptual processing style an adult adopts.

We found that adults associated /i/ sounds with shapes having spiky contours and 3 small protrusions. Of these shape features, shape contour showed the strongest association. While 9-11 year-olds showed adult-like shape processing biases, 6-8 year-olds prioritized protrusion number, not shape contour. Yet, 6-8 year-olds could make associations based on shape contour when shape contour was highlighted by presenting round and spikey shapes side-by-side in a follow-up exp2.

prioritized when making sound-shape correspondence by 6-8 year-olds versus adults. Importantly, shape processing biases can be altered by context such that children can resemble adults when the relevant shape features are highlighted.

1

Given literature suggesting that children

adults , we hypothesized that children

(e.g. number of protrusion more often) from adults.

2-5

1 2 3

4 5

Living Laboratory, Museum of Science, Boston

Stimuli

/baba/ /gaga/ /kiki/ /titi/

Set-up

+

/baba/

Which sound matches better with the shape?

/kiki/

4 sound pairs x 8 shapes x 2 = 64 trials

Time

700ms

700ms

6s response

+

+

/baba/

Time

Which shape matches better with the sound?

4 shape pairs x 4 sounds x 4 = 64 trials

700ms

6s response

Contour round vs. spikey

Protrusion size large vs. small

Protrusion number 7 vs. 3

So

un

d p

refe

ren

ceC

ou

nt

6-8(n=16)

9-11(n=17)

18-35(n=42)

Shap

e p

refe

ren

ceC

ou

nt

Sound ba/ga vs. ki/ti

6-8(n=15)

9-11(n=18)

18-35(n=43)

ba/g

a

ba/g

a

ba/g

a

roun

dsp

ikey

1 2 30

6-8

0 1 2 30 1 2 3

Reaction Time (s)1 2 30

Reaction Time (s)

9-11

18-3

5

6-8

9-11

18-3

5

6-8

9-11

18-3

5

6-8

9-11

18-3

5