Response Preparation and the Simon Effect: Experimental and Model-Based Analyses.

ABSTRACT: In choice between frequent and infrequent responses the Simon effect is larger for the frequent than for the infrequent response. We arbitrate between three hypotheses to account for this finding. The first hypothesis holds that it is a straightforward consequence of biased response preparation. The second hypothesis posits a facilitation of the shift of visual attention to the side of the prepared response in addition, and the third one an effect of the different frequencies of congruent and incongruent trials associated with the task-irrelevant stimulus locations. In three experiments we show the modulation of the Simon effect by relative response frequency, its independence from the distance between hands and monitor, and its almost complete elimination by valid response cues. These fin

SUBMITTER: Heuer H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12785706 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature