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Modulating Cognition Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Cerebellum

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Published on: February 15, 2015

Practice-induced and sequential modulations of the Simon effect.

Eric Soetens¹, Kathleen Maetens, Peter Zeischka

¹Department of Cognitive and Biological Psychology, University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium. esoetens@vub.ac.be

Attention, Perception & Psychophysics

|May 4, 2010

Summary

The Simon effect (SE) is modulated by practice. Incompatible training led to a lasting SE decrease in blocked trials but a temporary one in mixed trials, suggesting long-term memory links influence responses.

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Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

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Published on: February 15, 2015

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Published on: April 19, 2019

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Published on: July 26, 2013

Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience
Human Factors

Background:

The Simon effect (SE) demonstrates faster, more accurate responses to stimuli in corresponding locations, even when location is irrelevant.
The automatic priming explanation for SE is challenged by numerous exceptions.
Understanding SE modulations is crucial for cognitive processing research.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate practice-induced and sequential modulations of the Simon effect.
To differentiate between long-term and short-term memory effects on SE.
To examine the impact of blocked versus mixed trial presentation on SE.

Main Methods:

Two experiments were conducted involving participants trained with location-relevant stimuli.
Experiment 1 used blocked trials of location-relevant stimuli.
Experiment 2 mixed location-relevant and location-irrelevant trials.

Main Results:

Incompatible training produced a relatively permanent decrease in the SE in the blocked experiment.
The SE modulation was temporary in the mixed experiment.
A more permanent reversal of the SE after incongruent trials explained the difference, indicating sequential modulations rely on long-term practice effects.

Conclusions:

Long-term memory stimulus-response links, specifically contralateral ones, form under blocked training conditions.
Both short-term and long-term memory links are influenced by preceding events in SE tasks.
Practice effects significantly alter SE, with lasting impacts depending on trial structure.