Aspects of object recognition: When touch replaces vision as the dominant sense modality

Abstract

The present study examined (1) whether objects, represented in memory by visual cues, are recognized by touch and (2) by what information such representations might be reached, i.e. global shape, context, or components. Seven newly blind, seven congenitally blind, and eight adventitiously blind individuals were tested. The results suggested that representations consisting mainly of visual cues are most proficiently reached by subjects having (1) both visual and tactile experience, i.e. the adventitiously blind, and (2) information about the object’s global shape.