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Post-stop-signal slowing: strategies dominate reflexes and implicit learning
Patrick G Bissett1, Gordon D Logan
1Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240, USA. patrick.g.bissett@vanderbilt.edu
Journal of Experimental Psychology. Human Perception and Performance
|September 8, 2011
Summary
Post-stop-signal slowing in cognitive tasks is not reflexive but a strategic adjustment. Manipulating stop trial probability reveals how implicit learning and explicit strategies influence this behavior.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human behavior
Background:
- Cognitive control involves balancing competing demands, often studied using the stop-signal paradigm.
- Post-stop-signal slowing is a common adjustment, but its underlying mechanism (reflexive vs. strategic) is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether post-stop-signal slowing is a reflexive byproduct or a strategic/learned adjustment.
- To explore the influence of contingency learning and explicit cues on post-stop-signal slowing.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments manipulated the probability of stop trial repetition.
- Contingency awareness was varied (instructed/cued vs. uncued).
Main Results:
- Manipulating stop trial repetition contingencies significantly altered post-stop-signal slowing, eliminating, reversing, or increasing it.
- Uncued contingencies led to modest slowing, suggesting implicit learning.
- Cued contingencies resulted in immediate strategic adjustments.
Conclusions:
- Post-stop-signal slowing is not a reflexive response to stop signals.
- Behavioral adjustments are strategic and influenced by task demands and awareness of contingencies.
- The typically observed modest slowing may reflect static task environments that do not promote significant strategic changes.
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