Increased Performance Variability as a Marker of Implicit/Explicit Interactions in Knowledge Awareness.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Human Factors

Background:

• Implicit representations are thought to be key for awareness of hidden regularities in dual-structure tasks.
• Executive control systems may also predict explicit knowledge during task encoding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of practice-based sequence knowledge in individual awareness of hidden task regularities.
• To analyze performance patterns differentiating aware (solvers) and unaware participants in a dual-structure task.

Main Methods:

• 109 participants practiced a lateralized visual serial response time task (SRTT) under implicit conditions.
• Sequence learning was measured by response speed differences between structured and random blocks.
• Performance dynamics (speed, variability, errors) were analyzed before and after a 10-hour retention interval.

Main Results:

• All aware participants (solvers) acquired sequence knowledge; unaware participants also accumulated some knowledge.
• Only solvers showed increased performance variability alongside sequence-specific learning.
• Distinct performance patterns identified different cognitive processing modes supporting awareness.

Conclusions:

• A behavioral precursor to sequence awareness is the combination of speeded processing and heightened performance variability.
• This suggests an interaction between implicit and explicit processing systems is vital for awareness.
• Findings refine understanding of dual-structure task learning and behavioral variability in various conditions.