title: The rapid-chase theory does not extend to movement execution.
abstract: It is assumed that the processing of a prime followed by a mask occurs sequentially in a feedforward manner when the three (initiation, takeover, and independence) criteria outlined by the rapid-chase theory are met. The purpose of the current study was to determine if the processing of the prime and mask fit the predictions of the rapid-chase theory when the prime and mask are presented during an ongoing movement. In two experiments, participants made rapid pointing movements to a target indicated by the mask. In Experiment 1, the prime was presented at movement onset and the prime-mask stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) was manipulated. In Experiment 2, the prime-mask SOA was constant but the delay between movement and prime onset was manipulated. Although the results support the initiation and takeover criteria, the data did not support the independence criterion. Consequently, the rapid-chase theory does not appear to extend to movement execution.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: Jenna C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Flannigan
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z1, Canada.
authors.forename: Romeo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.affiliation: School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa K1N 6N5, Canada. Electronic address: erin.cressman@uottawa.ca.
authors.forename: Erin K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Cressman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010470:Perceptual Masking / Q000502:physiology*; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D060865:Repetition Priming / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Masked priming; Movement corrections; Prime-mask SOA; Rapid-chase theory; Unconscious processing