Response preparation begins before mental rotation is finished: evidence from event-related brain potentials

Behavioral data (response time (RT) and accuracy) and psychophysiological data (event-related brain potentials of ERPs, and lateralized readiness potential or LRP) were studied in an experiment in which rotated alphanumeric characters were presented normally or mirror-reversed. In half of the trials, character classification (letter versus digit) determined whether or not the response was to be executed (go versus nogo) and parity determined the responding hand. In the other half, classification determined the responding hand and parity determined go versus nogo. LRP data indicated that response preparation occurred before mental rotation was finished. These data contradict strictly sequential discrete models of information processing and suggest continuous flow of information.