The context-specific proportion congruent Stroop effect: location as a contextual cue

Psychon Bull Rev. 2006 Apr;13(2):316-21. doi: 10.3758/bf03193850.

Abstract

The Stroop effect has been shown to depend on the relative proportion of congruent and incongruent trials. This effect is commonly attributed to experiment-wide word-reading strategies that change as a function of proportion congruent. Recently, Jacoby, Lindsay, and Hessels (2003) reported an item-specific proportion congruent effect that cannot be due to these strategies and instead may reflect rapid, stimulus driven control over word-reading processes. However, an item-specific proportion congruent effect may also reflect learned associations between color word identities and responses. In two experiments, we demonstrate a context-specific proportion congruent effect that cannot be explained by such word-response associations. Our results suggest that processes other than learning of word-response associations can produce contextual control over Stroop interference.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cues*
  • Environment*
  • Humans
  • Reaction Time*