title: Out of control: an associative account of congruency effects in sequence learning.
abstract: The demonstration of a sequential congruency effect in sequence learning has been offered as evidence for control processes that act to inhibit automatic response tendencies (Jiménez, Lupiáñez, & Vaquero, 2009) via unconscious conflict monitoring. Here we propose an alternative interpretation of this effect based on the associative learning of chains of sequenced contingencies. This account is supported by simulations with a Simple Recurrent Network, an associative (connectionist) model of sequence learning. We argue that the control- and associative-based accounts differ in their predictions concerning the magnitude of the sequential congruency effect across training. These predictions are tested by reanalysing data from a study by Shanks, Wilkinson, and Channon (2003). The results support the associative learning account which explains the sequential congruency effect without appealing to control processes (either conscious or unconscious).
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK. t.beesley@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beesley
authors.forename: Fergal W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Shanks
mesh_terms: D001245:Association Learning; D001332:Automatism; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011930:Reaction Time; D011931:Reactive Inhibition; D012691:Serial Learning