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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
04:43
Visualizing Visual Adaptation
Published on: April 24, 2017
The elusive link between conflict and conflict adaptation
1Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1227, USA. mayr@uoregon.edu
Psychological Research
|November 27, 2008
Summary
Conflict monitoring and adaptation may not be directly linked. This study suggests other factors influence adaptation effects, challenging the original conflict-monitoring model. Further research is needed to explore these alternative explanations.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human Behavior
Background:
- The original conflict-monitoring model posits automatic regulation triggered by conflict.
- This model attributes both trial-to-trial adaptation and block-wise effects to the same regulatory mechanism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between conflict and conflict adaptation.
- To re-evaluate the core tenets of the conflict-monitoring model.
- To explore alternative explanations for observed adaptation effects.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Stroop task in two experimental settings.
- Analyzed trial-to-trial adaptation effects.
- Examined block-wise conflict manipulation effects.
Main Results:
- Adaptation effects without response repetitions were primarily observed early in testing.
- Significant block-wise effects were evident even without concurrent trial-to-trial effects.
- Failure to eliminate target-to-distractor repetitions artificially inflated trial-to-trial adaptation effects.
Conclusions:
- The link between conflict and conflict adaptation appears weaker than previously assumed.
- The findings challenge the universality of the original conflict-monitoring model.
- A broader range of factors likely contributes to conflict adaptation effects.
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