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Vertical versus horizontal spatial compatibility: right-left prevalence with bimanual responses.
K P Vu1, R W Proctor, D F Pick
1California State University Long Beach, USA.
Psychological Research
|December 8, 2000
Summary
Spatial compatibility effects show a robust right-left prevalence in bimanual responses. This phenomenon persists across different response methods and instructions, highlighting its significance in human-computer interaction and cognitive psychology.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Spatial stimulus-response compatibility (SRC) effects often exhibit a stronger horizontal (right-left) than vertical dimension.
- Previous research offers competing explanations: inability to code vertical location simultaneously with horizontal codes (Umiltà & Nicoletti, 1990) versus voluntary strategic control (Hommel, 1996).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the underlying mechanisms of the right-left prevalence effect in spatial compatibility.
- To differentiate between automatic coding limitations and strategic control in SRC.
Main Methods:
- Four experiments were conducted using two-choice tasks with varying stimulus-response locations (horizontal and vertical).
- Experiments manipulated response methods (numeric keypad, hand-grips), instructional focus (vertical vs. horizontal), practice schedules (varied vs. blocked), and response constraints.
- Bimanual responses were employed to assess the robustness of the right-left prevalence.
Main Results:
- Replicated Hommel's (1996) right-left advantage with horizontal instructions.
- Observed a benefit of vertical compatibility alone under vertical instructions, which was eliminated with varied practice or when subjects were urged to focus solely on the instructed dimension.
- Right-left prevalence remained robust across different response modalities and instructions, particularly when the right-left distinction was salient.
Conclusions:
- Right-left prevalence in bimanual spatial compatibility is a robust phenomenon.
- The findings suggest that while strategic control can modulate SRC, an underlying bias related to the right-left dimension may persist, especially under specific response conditions.