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Correlating Behavioral Responses to fMRI Signals from Human Prefrontal Cortex: Examining Cognitive Processes Using Task Analysis
Published on: June 20, 2012
Selective response activation can begin before stimulus recognition is complete: a psychophysiological and error
H G Smid1, G Mulder, L J Mulder
1Dept. of Experimental and Occupational Psychology, University of Groningen, Haren, The Netherlands.
Acta Psychologica
|August 1, 1990
Summary
Human information processing involves continuous flow, where response activation occurs early. This study used reaction time and brain potentials to show response facilitation and competition happen during display evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human Information Processing
Background:
- The continuous flow model predicts response activation upon stimulus availability.
- This model suggests response facilitation or competition based on response channel congruence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To directly assess response facilitation and competition mechanisms using psychophysiological measures and reaction time.
- To investigate the temporal interplay between stimulus evaluation and response activation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to measure P3 latency (stimulus evaluation) and motor activation onset.
- Employed electromyography (EMG) to determine peripheral motor activation timing.
- Manipulated flanker stimuli (compatible, incompatible, neutral, target alone) to elicit different response conditions.
Main Results:
- Reaction times were fastest for compatible arrays and slowest for incompatible arrays.
- P3 latencies were longer for incompatible and compatible trials compared to neutral and target-alone trials, respectively.
- Central motor activation initiated earlier in compatible and incompatible trials, while peripheral activation initiated later.
Conclusions:
- Flanker stimuli activate response channels during ongoing display evaluation, supporting response facilitation and competition.
- Stimulus recognition and response activation processes are not independent stages in human information processing.
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