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Published on: April 16, 2014
Preparation for horizontal or vertical dimensions affects the right-left prevalence effect.
Akio Nishimura1, Kazuhiko Yokosawa
1Department of Psycology, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, University of Tokyo, Japan. akio@L.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Perception & Psychophysics
|November 28, 2007
Summary
The right-left prevalence effect in stimulus-response compatibility is stronger when participants prepare for the task. This effect emerges when preparation is guided by task frequency, suggesting a stronger internal set for horizontal dimensions.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Human-computer interaction
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Stimulus-response compatibility effects often show a right-left prevalence, particularly when stimuli vary in multiple dimensions.
- Understanding the role of preparation is crucial for explaining this dimensional asymmetry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how preparation for horizontal and vertical dimensions influences the right-left prevalence effect.
- To determine the conditions under which preparation leads to or eliminates this effect.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments were conducted using varying cue-target stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs) and task relevance cues.
- Participants performed tasks involving both horizontal and vertical dimensions.
- Preparation was manipulated through random task mixing, fixed SOAs, and frequency-based preparation.
Main Results:
- A right-left prevalence effect was observed only when participants actively prepared for the upcoming task.
- The effect was absent with simultaneous cue and target presentation (0 msec SOA).
- The prevalence effect re-emerged with a 0 msec SOA when preparation was based on task frequency.
Conclusions:
- Preparation plays a critical role in the right-left prevalence effect.
- The findings suggest that internal task sets can be stronger for the horizontal dimension, contributing to the observed prevalence.
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