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Abstract

If the recognition of disoriented common objects relies on an adjustment of a reference frame, then recognition should be facilitated if the object is preceded by a different object in the same orientation. Two objects from different basic categories were presented in close temporal contiguity in brief masked displays, either in the same or in different picture plane orientations. Subjects had to name both objects. Before the test phase, presentation times for the second object were individually adjusted such that accuracy was at 80. Line-drawings of common objects were employed. In Experiment 1, objects were selected such that 12 were from biological and 12 from artifact categories. In Experiment 2, 12 objects with a vertical and 12 with a horizontal main axis were used. In both experiments, naming accuracy was higher when the two objects had congruent orientations. This effect was independent of object category, and of the objects’ main axis.