The negative compatibility effect: unconscious inhibition influences reaction time and response selection.

Full Abstract

In the negative compatibility effect (NCE) a masked prime arrow, pointing left or right, is followed by an unmasked (visible) target arrow. The task is to press the left or right switch corresponding to the visible arrow. Surprisingly, reaction time is longer (slowed) when the prime and target indicate the same, rather than different, responses. By contrast, the effect of an unmasked prime is positive-opposite to the NCE. This indicates that the NCE is not attributable to incomplete masking; to the extent that the prime is visible, the NCE would be reduced by this positive influence. Thus, the NCE appears to result from unconscious processing of the prime and, in that sense, may be a form of subliminal perception. Additional findings show that the NCE is due to inhibition of a response code, that it is automatic in that it occurs even if the information in the prime and target could be ignored, and that it also influences response selection.

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Author information

Author/s: Klapp, Stuart T (ST); Hinkley, Leighton B (LB);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, California State University, Hayward 94542, USA. sklapp(-atsign-)csuhayward.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of experimental psychology. General (J Exp Psychol Gen), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Jun; vol 131 (issue 2) : pp 255-69

Dates: Created 2002/06/06; Completed 2002/11/26; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12049243, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: J Exp Psychol Gen. 2004 Dec;133(4):475-93. (PMID: 15584802)

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