Sequential Compatibility Effects and Cognitive Control: Does Conflict Really Matter?

Burle, Borı́s; Allain, Sonia; Vidal, Franck; Hasbroucq, Thierry

doi:10.1037/0096-1523.31.4.831

Cited by 36 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The present research suggests that the flanker task is not suited for studying the type of sequential performance adjustments that are predicted by the conflict-control loop theory (Botvinick et al, 2001). This conclusion notwithstanding, brain imaging studies have yielded strong support for the predictions of the conflictcontrol loop theory regarding sequential effects on anterior cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex activity-in both the flanker task and other conflict paradigms (e.g., Botvinick et al, 1999;Durston et al, 2003;Kerns et al, 2004;Nieuwenhuis, Yeung, Van den Wildenberg, & Ridderinkhof, 2003; but see Burle, Allain, Vidal, & Hasbroucq, 2005). An important question for future research is how this apparent discrepancy between behavioral and brain imaging findings can be resolved.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Accounting for sequential trial effects in the flanker task: Conflict adaptation or associative priming?

et al. 2006

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The conflict-control loop theory proposes that the detection of conflict in information processing triggers an increase in cognitive control, resulting in improved performance on the subsequent trial. This theory seems consistent with the robust finding that conflict susceptibility is reduced following correct trials associated with high conflict: the conflict adaptation effect. However, despite providing favorable conditions for eliciting and detecting conflict-triggered performance adjustments, none of the five experiments reported here provide unequivocal evidence of such adjustments. Instead, the results corroborate and extend earlier findings by demonstrating that the conflict adaptation effect, at least in the flanker task, is only present for a specific subset of trial sequences that is characterized by a response repetition. This pattern of results provides strong evidence that the conflict adaptation effect reflects associative stimulus-response priming instead of conflict-driven adaptations in cognitive control.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Accounting for sequential trial effects in the flanker task: Conflict adaptation or associative priming?

et al. 2006

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“…Indeed, recently evidence has been reported that response conflict itself might not be sufficient to recruit control (Burle, Allain, Vidal, & Hasbroucq, 2005;Kunde, 2003). To the best of our knowledge, however, no alternative account has been proposed to replace conflict monitoring mechanisms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Conflict monitoring and feature overlap: Two sources of sequential modulations

Akçay

Hazeltine

2007

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review

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Recent findings demonstrating that the Simon effect diminishes when the preceding trial is a noncorresponding trial led researchers to develop two alternative accounts. The conflict monitoring account argues that the automatic activation from stimulus location information is under the regulation of a control mechanism, which adjusts the level of activation depending on conflict in the preceding trial. In contrast, the feature integration account holds that sequential modulations of the Simon effect can be attributed to the integration of stimulus and response features into event files. Previous research demonstrated a potential contribution to sequential modulations from both mechanisms. We use a four-choice task to extend these findings and to investigate the exact nature of the feature overlap effects. Both conflict monitoring and feature overlap effects were found to contribute to sequential modulations. However, the feature overlap effects did not conform to predictions of the feature integration account. We argue that the feature overlap effects are accounted for better by strategic shortcuts in response selection.

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“…In the Simon task, Burle, Allain, Vidal, and Hasbroucq (2005) observed on congruent trials that activation of the incorrect response sometimes leads to motor activity as measured by electromyographic activity (EMG). They argued that these congruent trials can be classified as conflict trials and consequently investigated adaptation after these trials.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%