Sequence learning at optimal stimulus-response mapping: evidence from a serial reaction time task.
We propose a new version of the serial reaction time (SRT) task in which participants merely looked at the target instead of responding manually. As response locations were identical to target locations, stimulus-response compatibility was maximal in this task. We demonstrated that saccadic response times decreased during training and increased again when a new sequence was presented. It is unlikely that this effect was caused by stimulus-response (S-R) learning because bonds between (visual) stimuli and (oculomotor) responses were already well established before the experiment started. Thus, the finding shows that the building of S-R bonds is not essential for learning in the SRT task.
Kinder
Annette
A
Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany. kinder@rz.uni-potsdam.de
Rolfs
Martin
M
Kliegl
Reinhold
R
D001288:Attention; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009949:Orientation; D011337:Probability Learning; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D012193:Reversal Learning; D012438:Saccades; D012691:Serial Learning