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

J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 2002 Dec;28(6):1345-63. 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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blinking / physiology*
  • Cues
  • Electroencephalography
  • Electrooculography / methods
  • Female
  • Form Perception / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reaction Time
  • Space Perception / physiology*
  • Visual Perception / physiology