Differential effects of task memory demand on haptic matching of shape by blind and sighted humans

The role of prior perceptual experience in retention of haptic information was studied, comparing blind and sighted individuals in a matching task that systematically varied task memory demand. The results indicated that whereas greater memory demand reduced retention for both groups of Ss, the blind showed better retention under such memory demand than did the sighted. The outcome was interpreted in light of the effects of prior experience in gathering information by hand, on the way the stimulus is explored, and the way it is coded.