Auditory warning signals affect mechanisms of response selection: evidence from a Simon task.
Irrelevant tone (accessory) stimuli facilitate performance in simple and choice reaction time tasks. In the present study, we combined accessory stimulation with a selective attention paradigm in order to investigate its influence on mechanisms of response selection. In the framework of a spatial stimulus-response compatibility task (Simon task), we tested whether accessory stimuli selectively affect bottom up triggered response activation processes (e.g., direct route processing), processing of task-relevant stimulus features (indirect route processing), or both/none. Results suggest a two-component effect of accessory stimuli within this selective attention task. First, accessory stimuli increased the Simon effect due to beneficial direct route processing. Second, accessory stimuli generally decreased reaction times indicating facilitation of indirect route processing.
Fischer
Rico
R
Technische Universität Dresden, Germany. fischer@psychologie.tu-dresden.de
Plessow
Franziska
F
Kiesel
Andrea
A
D000328:Adult; D001245:Association Learning; D001288:Attention; D001307:Auditory Perception; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D013028:Space Perception; D055815:Young Adult