Browsing by Author "Kilpeläinen, Markku"
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- Cognitive abilities predict performance in everyday computer tasks
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä(2024-08-16) Lintunen, Erik; Salmela, Viljami; Jarre, Petri; Heikkinen, Tuukka; Kilpeläinen, Markku; Jokela, Markus; Oulasvirta, AnttiFluency with computer applications has assumed a crucial role in work-related and other day-to-day activities. While prior experience is known to predict performance in tasks involving computers, the effects of more stable factors like cognitive abilities remain unclear. Here, we report findings from a controlled study (N=88) covering a wide spectrum of commonplace applications, from spreadsheets to video conferencing. Our main result is that cognitive abilities exert a significant, independent, and broad-based effect on computer users’ performance. In particular, users with high working memory, executive control, and perceptual reasoning ability complete tasks more quickly and with greater success while experiencing lower mental load. Remarkably, these effects are similar to or even larger in magnitude than the effects of prior experience in using computers and in completing tasks similar to those encountered in our study. However, the effects are varying and application-specific. We discuss the role that user interface design bears on decreasing ability-related differences, alongside benefits this could yield for functioning in society. - Primate retina trades single-photon detection for high-fidelity contrast encoding
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä(2024-12) Kilpeläinen, Markku; Westö, Johan; Tiihonen, Jussi; Laihi, Anton; Takeshita, Daisuke; Rieke, Fred; Ala-Laurila, PetriHow the spike output of the retina enables human visual perception is not fully understood. Here, we address this at the sensitivity limit of vision by correlating human visual perception with the spike outputs of primate ON and OFF parasol (magnocellular) retinal ganglion cells in tightly matching stimulus conditions. We show that human vision at its ultimate sensitivity limit depends on the spike output of the ON but not the OFF retinal pathway. Consequently, nonlinear signal processing in the retinal ON pathway precludes perceptual detection of single photons in darkness but enables quantal-resolution discrimination of differences in light intensity.