Strength of auditory stimulus-response compatability as a function of task complexity.

Abstract

Examined ear-response side and ear-hand components of lateral stimulus-response (S-R) compatability as a function of information processing complexity in 2 experiments with a total of 62 normal-hearing 17-37 yr olds. Exp I investigated the compatibility effects in 2 choice reaction time (RT) paradigms which F. C. Donders (1969) termed c (2 stimuli-1 response) and b (2 stimuli-2 responses). Exp II examined the same effects in Donders's a (simple) RT paradigm. Neither ear-hand nor ear-response location correspondence was evident in the a RT, but both were significant in the b and c. Ear-hand correspondence was not differentially affected by task complexity but ear-response side correspondence significantly increased from c to b and became more symmetrical. The RTs were significantly faster to right ear stimulation in the a task but significantly faster to left ear stimulation in tasks b and c. Results are discussed in terms of stage theory of information processing and in terms of their relevance for examination of functional asymmetry. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)