The Task-Relevant Attribute Representation Can Mediate the Simon Effect

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090954
• Publication Date: 2014-03-11T20:29:31Z
• Authors: Dandan Tang; Xiao Zhao; Antao Chen
• Keywords: Stimulus (psychology)

Researchers have previously suggested a working memory (WM) account of spatial codes, and based on this suggestion, the present study carries out three experiments to investigate how task-relevant attribute representation (verbal or visual) in typical Simon task affects effect. Experiment 1 compared effect between between- within-category color conditions, which required subjects discriminate red blue stimuli (presumed be represented by verbal WM codes because it was easy fast name colors verbally) two similar green visual hard time-consuming verbally), respectively. The results revealed reliable that only occurs between-category condition. 2 assessed requiring different isosceles trapezoids (within-category shapes) trapezoid from rectangle (between-category shapes), replicated expanded findings 1. In 3, were perform both tasks Wherein, 3A, preceded task; 3B, order opposite. showed when stimulus attributes encoding. addition, response times (RTs) distribution analysis for conditions Experiments 3A 3B decreased with RTs lengthened. Altogether, although are consistent temporal coding account, we put forth also depends attribute.