Abstract des Autors

In a two-choice task, response interference results in slower reaction times when both possible responses are from the same hand, rather than from different hands (Kornblum, 1965; Reeve & Proctor, 1988). The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of practice on response interference. Participants performed a pre-test that consisted of two blocks of reaction time trials, one using the right-index and right-middle fingers (a same-hand finger pairing) and the other using the left-index and right-middle fingers (a different-hand finger pairing). Following the pre-test, participants practiced with either the same-hand finger pairing or the different-hand finger pairing. Following two days of practice, the participants performed a post-test, which was the same as the pre-test. The reaction times for the right-middle finger were analyzed using a 2x2x2 (GroupxTestxFinger Pairing) ANOVA with repeated measures on the last two factors. The analysis revealed a significant three-way interaction. The results indicated a specificity of practice effect as a function of finger pairing, signifying that response interference arises from preparation processes that are amendable with practice. Verf.-Referat