Spatial intention-response compatibility

Abstract

In the current investigation the assumption that intentions and actions are represented in the same medium or code (common coding hypothesis of intention and action) was tested and confirmed [Q. J. Exp. Psychol. 52 (1999) 1; Eur. J. Cognit. Psychol. 9 (1997) 129]. In two experiments it is shown that the intention to produce a spatial consequence in the environment to an otherwise spatially neutral stimulus leads to a shorter response, if the responses and the intended consequences share relative positions compared to a situation where this is not the case. In two control experiments it is ruled out that this spatial intention-response compatibility effect is due to an intention-independent expectancy of the consequences of the correct responses.