Incidental sequence learning in humans: Predictions of an associative account - COLOUR_FY_IPLM_010

Abstract

I wanted to investigate whether participants could learn about a simple cue (a colour in the centre of the screen) that predicted the location of a required response (right or left stimulus) WITHOUT being aware of the relationship between the two. Using multiple colours that were either Predictive (were more likely to occur before either a right or left required response) or Non-Predictive (were equally likely to occur before either required response).

This experiment is the product of many pilot COLOUR studies (001 - 009) and introduced a central coloured square to a 2-choice reaction time task that flashed either Red, Yellow, Green or Blue. A circle the same colour as this central square would then appear on the right or left of the screen, requiring a spatially compatible key press. A prediction task and structured interview followed the task.

Participants were NOT informed of the nature of the experiment or the contingencies between colour and response. This experiment was conducted under incidental conditions.