Compatibility between stimulated eye, target location and response location

Psychol Res. 2010 May;74(3):291-301. doi: 10.1007/s00426-009-0247-x. Epub 2009 Jun 12.

Abstract

Responses to stimuli are faster when the stimulus location spatially corresponds to the required response (standard Simon effect). Recently, a similar effect has been observed with monocular stimuli. Responses were faster when the response location and the stimulated eye corresponded (monocular Simon effect). It has been suggested that distinct mechanisms may underlie these two Simon effects. Here, we attempted to study these two mechanisms simultaneously. For mean reaction time, a finding of perfect additivity was obtained. These behavioral data coupled with surface electrophysiological measures support the view that two different mechanisms contribute independently to the monocular and standard Simon effect.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Attention / physiology
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiology
  • Cues
  • Electroencephalography
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Orientation / physiology
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Reaction Time / physiology*
  • Space Perception / physiology
  • Time Factors
  • Vision, Ocular / physiology*