When the world tilts sideways: The influence of body position on the visual and auditory Simon Effect
Tue-H2-Talk 6-6204
Presented by: Pia Fenske
The impact of body position on spatial cognitive tasks seems to exist primarily when the task-relevant feature is non-spatial. In previous experiments modulating body position with a human gyroscope, we employed two types of spatial compatibility tasks: the spatial stimulus proper task in which participants are instructed to react to the location of a stimulus and the Simon task in which participants are instructed to react to a non-spatial feature of the stimulus, e.g. the colour. If the locations of the stimulus and response overlap (compatible trials), participants react faster and more accurate than if the locations are on opposites sides and do not overlap (incompatible trials), even if the spatial information is task-irrelevant as it is the case for the Simon task. While compatibility effects can be found in both tasks, body position modulated only the Simon effect. Here, we present the results of both visual and auditory Simon tasks, performed in an upright and horizontally tilted position. The focus will be if a modulation of the Simon Effect can be found independent of modality.
Keywords: Body position, spatial compatibility, Simon Effect, auditory, visual