A two-phase diffusion process account of cross-location conflict processing during mental imagery

The conflict processing mechanisms in mental imagery within one spatial location have been conceptualized by the dual-stage two-phase model. However, whether and how such conflicts operate across disparate locations remains unknown. Using a mental-rotation flanker task with central and flanking gaze judgments, we observed a decrease in the imagery conflict effect with larger rotation angles. Cross-experiment analyses revealed enhanced foveal than peripheral processing, modulated by rotation angle. Hierarchical Bayesian conflict drift-diffusion modeling identified a two-phase imagery conflict mechanism in both tasks. For small angles, the central task showed reduced non-decision time, more conservative responding, and enhanced decision-phase imagery conflict processing. In the flanking task, a similar strategy was accompanied by a decreased evidence accumulation rate in the second phase. These results establish that imagery conflict processing across spatial locations is driven by distinct decisional and non-decisional components, advancing a mechanistic understanding of cognitive control and mental rotation.