Speed and Lateral Inhibition of Stimulus Processing Contribute to Individual Differences in Stroop-Task Performance

Abstract

The Stroop task is a popular neuropsychological test that measures executive control. Strong Stroop interference is commonly interpreted in neuropsychology as a diagnostic marker of impairment in executive control, possibly reflecting executive dysfunction. However, popular models of the Stroop task indicate that several other aspects of color and word processing may also account for individual differences in the Stroop task, independent of executive control. Here we use new approaches to investigate the degree to which individual differences in Stroop interference correlate with the relative processing speed of word and color stimuli, and the lateral inhibition between visual stimuli. We conducted an electrophysiological and behavioral experiment to measure (1) how quickly an individual’s brain processes words and colors presented in isolation (P3 latency), and (2) the strength of an individual’s lateral inhibition between visual representations with a visual illusion. Both measures explained at least 40% of the variance in Stroop interference across individuals. As these measures were obtained in contexts not requiring any executive control, we conclude that the Stroop effect also measures an individual’s pre-set way of processing visual features such as words and colors. This study highlights the important contributions of stimulus processing speed and lateral inhibition to individual differences in Stroop interference, and challenges the general view that the Stroop task primarily assesses executive control.

Cognitive Vigilance Enhancement Using Audio Stimulation of Pure Tone at 250 Hz

“…The behavioral impairments observed in our study are also consistent with the decreased accuracy reported after 1 hour protocol to induce mental fatigue in [33]. Similarly to our experimental design, Naber et al [62] reported that RT significantly increased with time-on-task after 5 min in Stroop color word task. Likewise, driving studies have demonstrated that driver behavior in postcongestion situations became more aggressive indicating that VD affects behavioral performance [63], [64].…”

Lexical Phonological Networks in Children with Down Syndrome: An Initial Syllable Similarity Priming Task with an Eye-Tracking Method

“…Further evidence comes from studies that have shown an impaired ability of children with DS to inhibit irrelevant information in Stroop tasks (Borella, Carretti & Lanfranchi, 2013). While these tasks have been used as diagnostic markers for impairments in executive functions, they have been recently found to also reveal differences in the speed and efficiency of lateral inhibition between mental representations (Naber, Vedder, Brown & Nieuwenhuis, 2016).…”

Characteristics of the King-Devick test in the assessment of concussed patients in the subacute and later stages after injury

“…The Stroop Color and Word Test is a neuropsychological test used to measure executive control and selective attention [ 22 – 25 ]. Participants are asked to name the colour of the words presented as fast as they can [ 22 – 25 ]. This becomes more difficult to do if the colour is incongruent with the word [ 23 – 25 ].…”

“…Participants are asked to name the colour of the words presented as fast as they can [ 22 – 25 ]. This becomes more difficult to do if the colour is incongruent with the word [ 23 – 25 ]. It is easier to name the word ‘red’ if it is printed in red than if it is green.…”

“…In the latter situation, this conflict slows responding which leads to the ‘Stroop effect’ [ 23 – 25 ]. The scores on the task reflect how well participants can selectively direct attention to task relevant features while ignoring task-irrelevant features [ 23 – 25 ]. In our study, participants were asked to read the colour of words (blue, red, green) on a sheet of paper as fast as they can.…”