Bindings between stimuli and multiple response codes dominate long-lag repetition priming in speeded classification tasks.

Full Abstract

Repetition priming is often thought to reflect the facilitation of 1 or more processes engaged during initial and subsequent presentations of a stimulus. Priming can also reflect the formation of direct, stimulus-response (S-R) bindings, retrieval of which bypasses many of the processes engaged during the initial presentation. Using long-lag repetition priming of semantic classification of visual stimuli, the authors used task switches between study and test phases to reveal several signatures of S-R learning in Experiments 1 through 5. Indeed, the authors found surprisingly little, if any, evidence of priming that could not be attributed to S-R learning, once they considered the possibility that stimuli are simultaneously bound to multiple, different response codes. Experiments 6 and 7 provided more direct evidence for independent contributions from at least 3 levels of response representation: the action (e.g., specific finger used), the decision (e.g., yes-no), and the task-specific classification (e.g., bigger-smaller). Although S-R learning has been discussed previously in many contexts, the present results go beyond existing theories of S-R learning. Moreover, its dominant role brings into question many interpretations of priming during speeded classification tasks in terms of perceptual-conceptual processing. Copyright 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

Author information

Author/s: Horner, Aidan J (AJ); Henson, Richard N (RN);

Affiliation: Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, England.

Grants: WBSEU.1055.05.012.00001.01 (Agency:Medical Research Council)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of experimental psychology. Learning, memory, and cognition (J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-May; vol 35 (issue 3) : pp 757-79

Dates: Created 2009/04/21; Completed 2009/06/26;

PMID: 19379048, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 6/26/2009, IMS Date: 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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