Attention shifts produce spatial stimulus codes.
In the Simon task the spatial position of the stimulus, though task irrelevant, influences speed of response. We (Umiltà & Nicoletti, 1992) proposed that the orienting of attention to the imperative stimulus produces a Stroop-like interference. This paper reports the results of three experiments that provide empirical support for two predictions of this hypothesis. One is that the stimulus spatial code is formed with relation to the position to which attention is directed. The other prediction is that the Simon effect is obtained on condition that attention can orient to the stimulus.
Nicoletti
R
R
Istituto di Fisiologia Umana, Università di Modena, Italy.
Umiltà
C
C
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011930:Reaction Time