Abstract Concepts Modulate Mislocalization Phenomena: Do Successful People elicit a Larger Representational Momentum effect?

In this study we assess whether a mislocalization in object perception can be modulated by unrelated, abstract characteristics of the target object. Recent developments have framed the perceptual system as bi-directional; forming but also being formed by higher-level cognition, such as person characteristics. We extend these findings, applying them to cognition by testing whether a low-level process (perception of speed) can be moderated by abstract characteristics (a person’s success). In this experiment, two people were described as being either successful or not successful, followed by a measure of the representational momentum effect. This measure asked participants to indicate where videos of these persons running stopped, typically resulting in overestimating the running person’s movement.