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Response trajectories capture the continuous dynamics of the size congruity effect

In a comparison task involving numbers, the size congruity effect refers to the general finding that responses are usually faster when there is a match between numerical size and physical size (e.g., 2–8) than when there is a mismatch (e.g., 2–8). In the present study, we used computer mouse trackin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta psychologica 2016-01, Vol.163, p.114-123
Main Authors: Faulkenberry, Thomas J., Cruise, Alexander, Lavro, Dmitri, Shaki, Samuel
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:In a comparison task involving numbers, the size congruity effect refers to the general finding that responses are usually faster when there is a match between numerical size and physical size (e.g., 2–8) than when there is a mismatch (e.g., 2–8). In the present study, we used computer mouse tracking to test two competing models of the size congruity effect: an early interaction model, where interference occurs at an early representational stage, and a late interaction model, where interference occurs as dynamic competition between response options. In three experiments, we found that the curvature of responses for incongruent trials was greater than for congruent trials. In Experiment 2 we showed that this curvature effect was reliably modulated by the numerical distance between the two stimulus numbers, with large distance pairs exhibiting a larger curvature effect than small distance pairs. In Experiment 3 we demonstrated that the congruity effects persist into response execution. These findings indicate that incongruities between numerical and physical sizes are carried throughout the response process and result from competition between parallel and partially active response options, lending further support to a late interaction model of the size congruity effect. •We used computer mousetracking to analyze the dynamics of the size-congruity effect.•Trajectories for incongruent trials showed continuous influence from alternative.•Size of deflection increased monotonically as numerical size increased.•The data provide support for a late interaction model of the size congruity effect.
ISSN:0001-6918
1873-6297
DOI:10.1016/j.actpsy.2015.11.010