Reaching into response selection: Stimulus and response similarity influence central operations

Area of Science:

• Cognitive psychology
• Human-computer interaction
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Adaptive behavior in dynamic environments requires linking perception and action for response selection (RS).
• The impact of interstimulus and interresponse similarity on RS performance remains under-explored.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for designing intuitive and efficient human-computer interfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how stimulus similarity and response similarity interact to influence response selection performance.
• To determine if task conditions (speed vs. accuracy) modulate the effects of stimulus and response similarity.

Main Methods:

• Participants performed a task manipulating stimulus similarity (similar/dissimilar colors) and response similarity (close/far cursor locations).
• Mouse cursor trajectories were analyzed for curvature.
• Task conditions emphasized either speed or accuracy.

Main Results:

• A significant interaction was found between stimulus and response similarity.
• Mouse trajectory curvature was greatest when both stimulus and response features were similar.
• This effect persisted under both speed and accuracy task conditions.

Conclusions:

• Findings challenge symbolic look-up models of response selection.
• Results support models where central codes integrate metrical properties of stimuli and responses.
• This has implications for understanding cognitive control and designing user interfaces.