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Enhancement of the Simon effect by response precuing
R W Proctor1, C H Lu, T Van Zandt
1Psychology Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1364.
Acta Psychologica
|October 1, 1992
Summary
Response precuing, not attentional precuing, enhances the Simon effect. This suggests the Simon effect arises from response selection processes rather than stimulus identification.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human Factors
Background:
- The Simon effect occurs when response times are faster if stimulus location matches response location, even when location is irrelevant.
- Attentional and intentional precues can influence cognitive task performance.
- Previous research suggests a role for response selection in the Simon effect.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differential impact of attentional versus intentional precues on the Simon effect.
- To clarify the underlying mechanisms of the Simon effect, specifically distinguishing between stimulus identification and response selection accounts.
Main Methods:
- Replication of a prior study (Verfaellie et al., 1988) using attentional and intentional precues.
- Modified experimental procedures isolating the effects of attentional and intentional precues.
- Experiments involving crossed and uncrossed hand configurations with multiple stimuli per response.
Main Results:
- The Simon effect was significantly enhanced by intentional precues (signaling response location).
- Attentional precues (signaling stimulus location) did not significantly affect the Simon effect.
- The enhancement by intentional precues persisted across different experimental setups and response assignments.
Conclusions:
- Response precuing plays a crucial role in modulating the Simon effect.
- Findings support response-selection theories of the Simon effect over stimulus-identification theories.
- The study underscores the importance of response preparation in cognitive tasks.