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Examining Bilingual Language Control Using the Stroop Task
Published on: February 26, 2020
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Pupillary correlates of preparatory control in the Stroop task
Nash Unsworth1, Ashley L Miller2
1Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA. nashu@uoregon.edu.
Attention, Perception & Psychophysics
|July 5, 2023
Summary
High Stroop task performers show greater pupillary responses during preparation, indicating enhanced attentional control. Individual differences in preparatory control significantly impact Stroop performance.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The Stroop task is a widely used measure of executive function and attentional control.
- Individual differences in Stroop performance are substantial, but the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate individual differences in preparatory control during the Stroop task.
- To examine the relationship between pupillary responses, working memory capacity, and Stroop performance.
Main Methods:
- Participants completed variants of the Stroop task while pupillary responses were recorded during preparatory intervals.
- Working memory capacity was assessed.
- Experiment 2 manipulated trial congruency using pre-cues.
Main Results:
- Higher Stroop performers exhibited larger preparatory pupillary responses than lower performers.
- In Experiment 2, high performers showed greater pupillary responses for incongruent trials compared to congruent trials, unlike low performers.
- Working memory capacity showed limited association with preparatory control's influence on Stroop performance.
Conclusions:
- Individual differences in Stroop performance are partly attributable to variations in preparatory attentional control.
- The ability to modulate attentional intensity during preparation is a key factor in Stroop task success.
