Response selection and attention orienting: a computational model of Simon effect asymmetries

Exp Psychol. 2009;56(4):274-82. doi: 10.1027/1618-3169.56.4.274.

Abstract

Recently, there has been a redirection of research efforts toward the exploration of the role of hemispheric lateralization in determining Simon effect asymmetries. The present study aimed at implementing a connectionist model that simulates the cognitive mechanisms implied by such asymmetries, focusing on the underlying neural structure. A left-lateralized response-selection mechanism was implemented alone (Experiment 1) or along with a right-lateralized automatic attention-orienting mechanism (Experiment 2). It was found that both models yielded Simon effect asymmetries. However, whereas the first model showed a reversed pattern of asymmetry compared with human, real data, the second model's performance strongly resembled human Simon effect asymmetries, with a significantly greater right than left Simon effect. Thus, a left-side bias in the response-selection mechanism produced a left-side biased Simon effect, whereas a right-side bias in the attention system produced a right-side biased Simon effect. In conclusion, results showed that the bias of the attention system had a larger impact than the bias of the response-selection mechanism in producing Simon effect asymmetries.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Association Learning / physiology
  • Attention / physiology*
  • Color Perception / physiology*
  • Conflict, Psychological*
  • Corpus Callosum / physiology
  • Discrimination, Psychological / physiology
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology*
  • Frontal Lobe / physiology
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Humans
  • Motor Cortex / physiology
  • Nerve Net / physiology
  • Neural Networks, Computer*
  • Orientation / physiology*
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Reaction Time / physiology*