Abstract
One of the potential explanations for negative compatibility effects (NCE) in subliminal motor priming tasks has been perceptual prime-target interactions. Here, we investigate whether the characteristic tri-phasic LRP pattern associated with the NCE is caused by these prime-target interactions. We found that both the prime-related phase and the critical reversal phase remain present even on trials where the target is omitted, confirming they are elicited by the prime and mask, not by prime-target interactions. We also report that shape and size of the reversal phase are associated with response speed, consistent with a causal role for the reversal for the subsequent response latency. Additionally, we analysed sequential modulation of the NCE by previous conflicting events, even though such conflict is subliminal. In accordance with previous literature, this modulation is small but significant.
Highlights
Behaviour can be changed by masked visual stimuli which are not perceived consciously [1]
If prime-target interactions account for the negative compatibility effects (NCE) the reversal phase of the LRP should not occur in the no-target condition
Our second question was whether response speed to targets covaries with the amplitude of the reversal phase, as expected if this reversal is causal for slowing or facilitating responses and creating the NCE
Summary
Behaviour can be changed by masked visual stimuli which are not perceived consciously [1]. When the target immediately follows the prime, a positive compatibility effect (PCE) typically occurs: responses in compatible trials (prime and target stimuli are mapped to the same response) are generally faster and more accurate than responses in incompatible trials (prime and target stimuli are mapped to alternative responses). This pattern can counter-intuitively reverse when the interstimulus interval (ISI) increases beyond 100 ms (i.e. responses to compatible trials are slower and less accurate than responses to incompatible trials) which results in the emergence of a negative compatibility effect (NCE; Eimer & Schlaghecken, 1998). It can measure lateralised covert response tendencies before the overt motor response is given [2])
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