A Reproduction Experiment Concerning the Relation Between Perceptual Features and Memory in Shogi

Grimbergen, R. (2008).

in: The 13th Game Programming Workshop in Japan (GPW2008), pp. 120--123, Kanagawa, Japan.

Abstract

To use Minsky's Society of Mind theory to model human cognitive behavior in games, we first need to understand more about the interaction between perception and knowledge in memory. In this paper a reproduction experiment in shogi will be described that confirms or invalidates a number of hypotheses about perception in shogi without the use of game specific knowledge. These hypotheses are: 1) It is easier to perceive one's own pieces than the pieces of the opponent, 2) It is easier to perceive pieces in hand than pieces on the board, 3) It is easier to perceive promoted pieces than pieces that are not promoted, 4) Pieces closer to oneself are easier to perceive than pieces further away, and 5) Bigger pieces are easier to perceive than smaller pieces. No evidence was found that one's own pieces are easier to perceive than the pieces of the opponent. Also, there was no evidence that promoted pieces are easier to perceive than non-promoted pieces. However, size and closeness of the pieces and the difference between pieces on the board and pieces in hand seem to be factors influencing perception.