Abstract
Two experimental paradigms were used to investigate the interference which occurs in a choice RT task when the source of a stimulus does not correspond with its meaning. In one paradigm, subjects were instructed to delay executing their response to a red or green light until they heard a go signal which was presented 0, 150,250, or 350 msec after the light. In the other paradigm, subjects translated the pitch of a tone into an appropriate keypress response. For some groups, the stimulus response connections were specified prior to or simultaneously with the presentation of the stimulus tone, while, for other groups, the labeling of the response keys followed the onset of the tone. Results indicated that irrelevant directional cues produce interference which affects the response selection stage and persists for approximately 250 msec
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Craft J. L., &Simon J R. Processing symbolic information from a visual display. Interference from an irrelevant directional cue.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1970.83, 415–420.
Fitts, P. M., &Seeger, C. M. S-R compatibility: Spatial daaracterlstlcS of stimulus and response codes.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1953,46, 199–210.
Jensen, A. R., &Rohwer, W D., Jr. The Stroop color-word test: A reviewActa Psychology, 1966,25, 36–93.
Simon J. R., Acosta, E., Jr., &Mewaldi, S. P. Effect of locus of warning tone on auditory choice reaction time.Memory & Cognition, 1975,3, 167–170.
Simon, J. R., &Creaft, J. L. Effects of an irrelevant auditory stimulus on visual choice reaction time.Journal of Experimental Psychology. 1970,86, 272–274.
Simon, J. R., &Craft, J. L. Reaction time in an oddity task: Responding to the “different” element in a three-light display.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1972,92, 405–411.
Simon, J. R., Craft.J L., &Webster, J. B. Reaction time to onset and offset of lights and tones: Reactions toward the changed eleraent in a two-element display.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1971,89, 197–202.
Simon, J. R., Craft, J. L., &Webster, J B. Reactions toward the stimulus source. Analysis of correct responses and errors over a five-day period.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1973,101, 175–178.
Simon.J. R., Small, A. M., Jr., Ziglar, R. A., & Craft, J. L. Response interference in an information processing task: Sensory versus perceptual factors.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1970,85. 311–314.
Smith, E. E. Choice reaction time. An analysis of the major theoretical positions.Psychological Bulletin, 1968,69, 77–110.
Wallace, R. J. S-R compatibility and the idea of a response code.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1971,88, 354–360.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Simon, J.R., Acosta, E., Mewaldt, S.P. et al. The effect of an irrelevant directional cue on choice reaction time: Duration of the phenomenon and its relation to stages of processing. Perception & Psychophysics 19, 16–22 (1976). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199380
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199380