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Glite Dictionary
tachistoscope

tachistoscope

9.9
A machine that shows pictures for a very short time to test how quickly people see them
  • noun
  • /ˌtækɪstəˈskoʊp/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tachistoscopio
  • In her psychology class, the instructor demonstrated how to use a tachistoscope for visual perception testing.

Examples

  • Projection was accomplished by means of an automated Lafayette Instruments projection tachistoscope apparatus interfaced with an electronic timer, projecting on a white screen.

    Academic text (2002)

  • Researchers employed a tachistoscope to briefly show images and measure participants' reactions.

  • The experiment involved presenting shapes using a tachistoscope to study how quickly subjects could identify them.

Synonyms

t-scope
vstachistoscope
  • Specialized
9.9

A device that shows images for very short times in psychology experiments

is used in psychology and perception experiments to present brief visual stimuli

How Brief

strobe
  • Specialized
19 6.3
tachistoscope
  • Specialized
9.9
projector
74 3.0

Surface Forms

tachistoscope singular
tachistoscopes plural

Morphology

tachistoscope = scope (opaque) = tachisto + scope

The word is built from a technical combining form meaning 'rapid' plus 'scope', but the full scientific meaning is not readily recoverable for an average learner.

Etymology

The word tachistoscope comes from Greek parts tachy- meaning 'fast' and -scope meaning 'to look', the same scope you see in telescope and microscope. So a tachistoscope is like a 'fast-looking' device that shows images for a very short time to help researchers study how people see.