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Effects of face and inanimate-object contexts on stimulus-response compatibility
David F Pick1, Sandra Specker, Kim-Phuong L Vu
1Department of Behavioral Sciences, Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, IN, USA.
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
|September 26, 2013
Summary
Spatial compatibility effects extend beyond faces to inanimate objects like vehicles and road signs. This suggests external reference frames are used for processing object locations, regardless of animacy.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Social Cognition
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Left-right spatial compatibility effects are documented for vertically oriented stimuli against rotated face backgrounds.
- Stimulus-response mapping aligned with participant perspective (e.g., right eye to right response) improves performance.
- A key question in social cognition is whether animate and inanimate objects undergo differential processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if spatial compatibility effects differ between animate (faces) and inanimate objects.
- To determine if the coding of stimulus location relies on external frames of reference for non-face stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted comparing compatibility effects for inanimate objects versus face stimuli.
- Stimuli included faces (frontal and profile views), vehicles, and a road sign.
- Compatibility effects were measured from the participant's perspective.
Main Results:
- Left-right spatial compatibility effects were observed for vehicles and faces.
- Similar compatibility effects were found for a road sign, an inanimate object.
- These effects were consistent from the participant's viewpoint.
Conclusions:
- Spatial compatibility effects are not limited to face stimuli.
- The coding of stimulus location relative to an external frame of reference is a more general mechanism.
- This processing extends to inanimate objects, challenging the notion of unique processing for animate stimuli in this context.
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