Temporal characteristics of noise conditions producing facilitation and interference.

Abstract

In reaction time (RT) experiments, a target letter was flanked by noise letters with differing relations to the target. When noise letters that are identical to the target, or response-compatible but not identical, precede the target by 100 msec, RT is facilitated. Facilitation by identical noise is greater. Scaling analysis of the RT distributions indicated that facilitation by compatible noise is a very short-latency, transient effect. Facilitation by identical noise is more persistent. It is suggested that there are two facilitative processes-direct response priming by compatibility, and facilitation of stimulus coding by stimulus identity. Facilitation is not obtained when these noise letters are presented simultaneously with the target. Associative interference is produced by response-incompatible noise letters, both with simultaneous presentation and with noise preceding the target. Maximum interference is earlier when noise precedes the target. This confirms previous findings and a prediction of continuous growth theory.