title: Attention-shift vs. response-priming explanations for the spatial cueing effect in cross-modal tasks.
abstract: The task-irrelevant spatial location of a cue stimulus affects the processing of a subsequent target. This "Posner effect" has been explained by an exogenous attention shift to the spatial location of the cue, improving perceptual processing of the target. We studied whether the left/right location of task-irrelevant and uninformative tones produces cueing effects on the processing of visual targets. Tones were presented randomly from left or right. In the first condition, the subsequent visual target, requiring response either with the left or right hand, was presented peripherally to left or right. In the second condition, the target was a centrally presented left/right-pointing arrow, indicating the response hand. In the third condition, the tone and the central arrow were presented simultaneously. Data were recorded on compatible (the tone location and the response hand were the same) and incompatible trials. Reaction times were longer on incompatible than on compatible trials. The results of the second and third conditions are difficult to explain with the attention-shift model emphasizing improved perceptual processing in the cued location, as the central target did not require any location-based processing. Consequently, as an alternative explanation they suggest response priming in the hand corresponding to the spatial location of the tone. Simultaneous lateralized readiness potential (LRP) recordings were consistent with the behavioral data, the tone cues eliciting on incompatible trials a fast preparation for the incorrect response and on compatible trials preparation for the correct response.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Cognitive Brain Research Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.|Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Division of Cognitive and Neuropsychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Petri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paavilainen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Division of Cognitive and Neuropsychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Janne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Illi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Cognitive Brain Research Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.|Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Division of Cognitive and Neuropsychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Nella
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moisseinen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Division of Cognitive and Neuropsychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Maija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niinisalo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Division of Cognitive and Neuropsychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Karita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ojala
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Division of Cognitive and Neuropsychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reinikainen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Division of Cognitive and Neuropsychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Lari
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vainio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Response priming; crossmodal processing; exogenous attention shifts; lateralized readiness potential (LRP)