Seamon, J.G. & Carrasco, M. (1999). The effect of study time on priming
possible and impossible figures in the object decision test. Psicothema,
Previous research demonstrated object decision priming for possible, but
not impossible three-dimensional objects (e.g., Scacter et al. 1990; 1991).
Subsequent research by Carrasco and Seamon (1996) found that when possible
and impossible objects were equated for complexity, priming was observed
for both object types. The present research extended the complexity results.
Possible objects demonstrated object decision priming with greater classification
accuracy for studied than nonstudies objects, following exposure durations
of 900 ms to 30 s. The pattern for impossible objects was a function of
their complexity. Highly complex impossible objects showed greater classification
accuracy for nonstudied than studied objects, whereas moderately complex
impossible objects showed no difference in classification accuracy, except
following the longest duration where studied objects were classified more
accurately than nonstudied objects. The conditions under which priming
was observed for possible and impossible objects was discussed in terms
of stimulus complexity and the ease of generating structural representations
of the stimuli and the presence of a general response bias.