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. 2008 Jul;72(4):397-404.
doi: 10.1007/s00426-007-0123-5. Epub 2007 Aug 3.

Context dependent learning in the serial RT task

Elger L Abrahamse  1 , Willem B Verwey
Affiliations

Context dependent learning in the serial RT task

Elger L Abrahamse et al. Psychol Res. 2008 Jul.

Abstract

This study investigated the development of contextual dependencies for sequential perceptual-motor learning on static features in the learning environment. In three experiments we assessed the effect of manipulating task irrelevant static context features in a serial reaction-time task. Experiment 1 demonstrated impaired performance after simultaneously changing display color, placeholder shape, and placeholder location. Experiment 2 showed that this effect was mainly caused by changing placeholder shape. Finally, Experiment 3 indicated that changing context affected both the application of sequence knowledge and the selection of individual responses. It is proposed either that incidental stimulus features are integrated with a global sequence representation, or that the changed context causes participants to strategically inhibit sequence skills.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mean RT for Blocks 1–20 in Experiment 1. In Block 19 display color, placeholder shape, and placeholder location were simultaneously changed
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mean RT per experimental group for Blocks 1–20 in Experiment 2. In Block 19 for each group another context feature was changed
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mean RTs for the group practicing with a pseudo-random sequence (Experiment 3) and the group practicing with a fixed sequence (taken from Experiment 2). In both groups, Block 19 involved changing placeholder shape
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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