Space positional and motion SRC effects: A comparison with the use of reaction time distribution analysis

• Published in: Advances in cognitive psychology 2013, Vol.9 (4), p.202-215
• Main Authors: Styrkowiec, Piotr, Szczepanowski, Remigiusz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1895-1171; 1895-1171
• DOI: 10.2478/v10053-008-0146-5

The analysis of reaction time (RT) distributions has become a recognized standard in studies on the stimulus response correspondence (SRC) effect as it allows exploring how this effect changes as a function of response speed. In this study, we compared the spatial SRC effect (the classic Simon effect) with the motion SRC effect using RT distribution analysis. Four experiments were conducted, in which we manipulated factors of space position and motion for stimulus and response, in order to obtain a clear distinction between positional SRC and motion SRC. Results showed that these two types of SRC effects differ in their RT distribution functions as the space positional SRC effect showed a decreasing function, while the motion SRC showed an increasing function. This suggests that different types of codes underlie these two SRC effects. Potential mechanisms and processes are discussed.