Control over location-based response activation in the Simon task: behavioral and electrophysiological evidence

Sturmer, B., Leuthold, H., Soetens, E., Schroter, H. and Sommer, W. (2002) Control over location-based response activation in the Simon task: behavioral and electrophysiological evidence. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 28(6), pp. 1345-1363. (doi: 10.1037//0096-1523.28.6.1345)

Abstract

In 4 Simon experiments the authors examined control over 2 routes of sensorimotor processing: response priming in the unconditional route and response selection via the conditional route. The Simon effect diminished as the frequency of noncorresponding trials increased. Location-based response priming was observed only when the stimulus followed a corresponding event but not after a noncorresponding trial. Therefore, the unconditional route appears to be suppressed whenever the task context indicates priming as potentially disadvantageous. Moreover, the task-irrelevant stimulus location was used for response selection as a function of correspondence probability. Although exact repetitions of stimulus-response sequences caused a marked speed-up of responses, this 3rd mechanism is independent of unconditional route suppression and frequency-based adjustments in the conditional route

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Leuthold, Prof Hartmut
• Authors: Sturmer, B., Leuthold, H., Soetens, E., Schroter, H., and Sommer, W.
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology
• Journal Name: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance
• Journal Abbr.: J. exp. psychol. Hum. percept. perform.
• Publisher: American Psychological Association
• ISSN: 0096-1523
• ISSN (Online): 1939-1277