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Emergent perceptual features in the benefit of consistent stimulus-response mappings on dual-task performance

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Abstract

Duncan (1979) examined all combinations of compatible and incompatible stimulus-response mappings for two spatial three-choice tasks in the psychological refractory period paradigm. Performance was better when the mappings for the tasks were consistent than when they were not, even when both mappings were incompatible. He attributed the benefit for the consistent incompatible mapping to an emergent choice between mappings when they are inconsistent that slows performance. Consistent incompatible mappings also may benefit from emergent perceptual features. The present study examined the role of emergent perceptual and mapping-choice features in two experiments that used pairs of two-choice tasks. Results similar to Duncan’s were obtained with visual stimuli mapped to keypresses at short (stimulus onset asynchrony) SOAs. However, the benefit of the consistent incompatible mapping condition over the inconsistent mapping conditions was eliminated at an SOA of 1,000 ms. Furthermore, this benefit was not evident when the stimuli were auditory for Task 1 and visual for Task 2. With two-choice tasks, the benefit for consistent mappings apparently is due primarily to an emergent perceptual feature.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Chris Burch, David Purpura, Robert Janik, and Kristina Schneider for their help in collecting data. We also thank John Duncan, Pierre Jolicœur, and Jochen Müsseler for helpful comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. California State University, Long Beach and Northridge, CA, USA

    Kim-Phuong L. Vu

  2. Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, 703 Third Street West, Lafayette, IN, 47908-2081, USA

    Robert W. Proctor

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  1. Kim-Phuong L. Vu
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  2. Robert W. Proctor
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Correspondence to Robert W. Proctor.

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Vu, KP.L., Proctor, R.W. Emergent perceptual features in the benefit of consistent stimulus-response mappings on dual-task performance. Psychological Research 70, 468–483 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-005-0021-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-005-0021-7

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