The Cognitive Research Group is proud to host its
cross-group seminar for Semester 2 2017, with a talk by Associate Professor
Matthew Finkbeiner from Macquarie University
WHEN: Thursday 14 September, 12-1pm.
WHERE: Keats reading room, AVLG17. VC link to Ourimbah
will be available.
TITLE: Using reaching movements to investigate the
dynamics of cognitive control in choice-conflict tasks
ABSTRACT: A striking feature of human behaviour is our
ability to configure our cognitive system to optimize performance in a wide
range of contexts through adjustments in, for example, perceptual selection
and/or response biases. This remarkable
ability is referred to as cognitive control and a central goal of cognitive
science is to develop an account of how cognitive control is achieved. In an effort to remove the homunculus from
earlier theories of cognitive control, Cohen and colleagues have proposed the
“Conflict Monitoring Hypothesis” (CMH).
This hypothesis has been used to explain patterns of performance in
several conflict-inducing tasks (e.g. Stroop, Simon & Flanker tasks) and
has received strong support across fields, including both Neuroscience and
Psychology. A core assumption of the CMH
is that conflict arises as a function of the magnitude, not the timing, of the
activation of competing (conflicting) representations at the response
level. In the present study, we used the
reach-to-touch paradigm in a fine-grained investigation of these time- and
magnitude-difference accounts of the Simon, Stroop and Flanker tasks. Our results support the time-difference
account of the Simon effect and the magnitude-difference account of the Flanker
effect. The results of the Stroop task
did not strongly support either account.
CONTACT: For further information or to arrange a meeting
with Matthew, please contact guy.hawkins@newcastle.edu.au
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday!
