Citation

Ruiz Fernández S, Ulrich R. Psychol. Res. 2010; 74(4): 378-387.

Affiliation

Cognitive and Biological Psychology, University of Tübingen, Friedrichstr. 21, 72072, Tübingen, Germany, susana.ruiz-fernandez@uni-tuebingen.de.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00426-009-0260-0

PMID

19855997

Abstract

The central bottleneck model assumes that in the psychological refractory paradigm, Task 1 performance is independent of Task 2 demands. Previous studies, however, have reported backward crosstalk effects of motor demands in Task 2 on Task 1 performance. These effects have been attributed to interference at the central level. The present study aimed to isolate more directly potential backward effects at the motor level. Therefore, in three experiments, movement distance in Task 2 was manipulated using a guided ballistic movement. The results showed that movement distance in Task 2 affected reaction time as well as response duration in Task 1. It is argued that the backward effect observed in this study is due to response coupling at motor rather than central levels.

Language: en