Sequential Dependencies in the Lexical Decision Task: A Role of the Basal Ganglia

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Sequential Dependencies in the Lexical Decision Task: A Role of the Basal Ganglia Lars Kuchinke1*, Wolf-Rüdiger Brockhaus2, Markus M. Hofmann3 and Arthur M. Jacobs2 1 Ruhr Universität Bochum, Experimental Psychology and Methods, Germany 2 Freie Universität Berlin, Neurocognitive Psychology, Germany 3 Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Education and Psychology, Germany Sequential dependencies (SD) in the Lexical Decision Task (LDT) result in faster responses following word trials than in trials following nonwords trials – irrespective of the lexicality of the current trial. These sequential dependencies are discussed to indicate that subjects shift their response decision criterion on a trial-by-trial basis. Recent computational modelling studies have associated criterion shifting in in selection processes with general functions of the basal ganglia in human cognition. Accordingly, in recent fMRI study, we have shown that basal ganglia activation is associated with trial-by-trial criterion setting in the LDT. From these data it can be assumed that basal ganglia activation indicates the criterion setting. Since higher activations following word trials might also be attributed to semantic processing of previous words, we conducted an additional behavioral study, directly manipulating the amount of semantic associations in the stimulus set via word co-occurrence measures. While manipulating semantic activation affected the processing of word-word sequences, it did not affect the processing of word-nonword sequences. Thus, we did not observe evidence in favour of the semantic explanation of the sequential dependencies. In contrast, our data provide evidence that it is the time needed to process the previous item which influences the size of the sequential dependencies. Keywords: Basal Ganglia, higher order decision making, lexical decision task, semantik effects, sequential depencies Conference: Decision Neuroscience From Neurons to Societies, Berlin, Germany, 23 Sep - 25 Sep, 2010. Presentation Type: Poster Topic: Abstracts Citation: Kuchinke L, Brockhaus W, Hofmann MM and Jacobs AM (2010). Sequential Dependencies in the Lexical Decision Task: A Role of the Basal Ganglia. Front. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: Decision Neuroscience From Neurons to Societies. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.82.00012 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 13 Aug 2010; Published Online: 07 Sep 2010. * Correspondence: Dr. Lars Kuchinke, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Experimental Psychology and Methods, Bochum, Germany, kuchinke@zedat.fu-berlin.de Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Lars Kuchinke Wolf-Rüdiger Brockhaus Markus M Hofmann Arthur M Jacobs Google Lars Kuchinke Wolf-Rüdiger Brockhaus Markus M Hofmann Arthur M Jacobs Google Scholar Lars Kuchinke Wolf-Rüdiger Brockhaus Markus M Hofmann Arthur M Jacobs PubMed Lars Kuchinke Wolf-Rüdiger Brockhaus Markus M Hofmann Arthur M Jacobs Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.