Correlational cuing as a function of target complexity and target-flanker similarity

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Perception and Attention

Background:

• The correlational cuing effect (CE) is typically attributed to learned associations between flankers and responses.
• This study investigates alternative explanations for the CE, particularly focusing on on-line processing during training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To challenge the traditional view that CE is solely based on learned associations.
• To explore the role of on-line processes, such as repetition priming and stimulus similarity, in the CE.

Main Methods:

• Experiments used various targets (color, orientation, letters) and flankers with varying degrees of correlation and similarity.
• The impact of removing correlations and manipulating stimulus similarity on CE was assessed.
• On-line processes during training were differentiated from learned associations.

Main Results:

• CE for color and orientation targets disappeared when correlations were removed, indicating a lack of learned associations.
• Repetition priming was identified as a contributing factor to CE during training.
• Pre-experimental similarity between targets and flankers was crucial for CE transfer, suggesting a regular flanker effect.

Conclusions:

• The CE is not solely due to learning associations.
• On-line processes, including repetition priming and the regular flanker effect (for similar pairs), play a significant role.
• These findings suggest that for simple stimulus-response mappings, CE may not involve learning at all.