Pupil dilation is assumed to be a slow and indirect reflection of latent cognitive events. Deconvolution approaches promise a more precise study of these events, assuming that they all trigger a delayed pupil response. However, conventional deconvolution approaches neglect the possibility that between-event timings and the shape of the pupil responses differ between subjects, trials, and cognitive events. Accounting for this variability however is crucial to 1) achieve precise recovery of latent events and 2) to investigate how trial-level predictors influence cognitive processes. We present a new method that performs trial-level deconvolution by combining generalized additive mixed models with Hidden semi-Markov models. We tested this method on synthetic data and subsequently applied it to data from a lexical decision experiment (N=24) and recovered six processing events. Investigating the trial-level durations of the recovered events revealed that early visual and late decision-related processing were influenced differently by frequency and word-type.

The Rescorla-Wagner model has seen widespread success in modelling not only its original target of animal learning, but also several areas of human learning. However, despite its success, a number of studies with humans have found effects that are not predicted by the model, thus inspiring proposals for modifications to the model. One such proposal, by Van Hamme and Wasserman (1994, VHW), is that humans not only learn from present cues to all (present and absent) outcomes, as in the original model, but also learn from the absence of cues. They set out to test this hypothesis with a causal rating experiment. However, behaviour in learning studies may depend on the task. We propose that error-driven learning should be considered to be a form of implicit learning and that the results of VHW’s contingency judgement task might stem from explicit strategies involving logic and reasoning. The present study investigates this question by a) running simulations with both the original and modified versions of the model; b) replicating the VHW experiment (Experiment 1); and c) extending the experiment with new stimuli and by including unseen stimuli following the learning phases (Experiment 2). Simulations show that the VHW modified model predicts that cues learnt at the beginning will be unlearnt when absent over the following blocks, so that they become negative predictors over time. In contrast, the original RW predicts that the absent cues remain steady (positive) predictors over the blocks. Results showed no significant difference in cue assignment between training and test, in line with the original RW model. Moreover, predictive cues in the training phase showed significantly higher ratings than a new cue introduced in the test phase, at least in some cases, also partially supporting the original RW. We propose that in the development of human learning theory, attention should be paid to whether the behaviour (or other learning data) to be modelled results from implicit learning or involves higher level cognitive processes. We suggest that the RW may best capture implicit error-driven learning.

In a production by typing task, with extraneous factors (e.g., length) controlled, measures such as latency to initialkeystroke as well as mean inter keystroke interval typically vary systematically according to the word’s lexical properties.Conventionally, lexical effects in production tasks get interpreted as evidence of cascaded processing between central andperipheral levels. We compare mean and distribution of keystroke latencies within the same stem as it undergoes affixation insets such as DEPRESS, DEPRESSION, DEPRESSIVE. Novel is the comparison of stems that differ with respect to number ofaffixes like SUPER, SUPERIOR, SUPERIORITY. Results provide new insights into the ways in which morphological structurecan influence purportedly peripheral motor processing.

Using a novel adaptation of the visual world eye-trackingparadigm we investigated children’s and adults’ onlineprocessing of reference in a naturalistic language context.Participants listened to a 5-minute long storybook whilewearing eye-tracking glasses. The gaze data were analyzedrelative to the onset of referring expressions (i.e., full nounphrases (NPs) and pronouns) that were mentionedthroughout the story. We found that following the mentionof a referring expression there was an increase in theproportion of looks to the intended referent for both childrenand adults. However, this effect was only found early on inthe story. As the story progressed, the likelihood thatparticipants directed their eye gaze towards the intendedreferent decreased. We also found differences in the eye gazepatterns between NPs and pronouns, as well as betweenchildren and adults. Overall these findings demonstrate thatthe mapping between linguistic input and corresponding eyemovements is heavily influenced by discourse context.