Instruction-induced feature binding.
In order to test whether or not instructions specifying the stimulus-response (S-R) mappings for a new task suffice to create bindings between specified stimulus and response features, we developed a dual task paradigm of the ABBA type in which participants saw new S-R instructions for the A-task in the beginning of each trial. Immediately after the A-task instructions, participants had to perform a logically independent B-task. The imperative stimulus for the A-task was presented after the B-task had been executed. The present data show that the instructed S-R mappings influence performance on the embedded B-task, even when they (1) have never been practiced, and (2) are irrelevant with respect to the B-task. These results imply that instructions can induce bindings between S- and R-features without prior execution of the task at hand.
Wenke
Dorit
D
Department of Psychology, Humboldt University at Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489, Berlin, Germany. dorit.wenke@psychologie.hu-berlin.de
Gaschler
Robert
R
Nattkemper
Dieter
D
D000328:Adult; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D013663:Teaching; D014796:Visual Perception