Beneficial effects of ambiguous precues: Parallel motor preparation or reduced premotoric processing time?

Authors: Jentzsch I.¹; Leuthold H.¹; Richard ridderinkhof K.²

Source: Psychophysiology, Volume 41, Number 2, March 2004 , pp. 231-244(14)

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Abstract:

The present study was designed to investigate the mechanisms underlying movement preprogramming in situations where informative but ambiguous precue information is used. In a response precuing task that involved flexion or extension movements with the right or left index finger, a spatially compatible precue conveyed partial information about side, about direction, no parameter information (ambiguous condition), or no information at all. Advance movement preparation was indicated by reaction-time shortening for all informative precue conditions. The analysis of stimulus- and response-locked lateralized readiness potential onsets revealed a clear and exclusive motoric origin of the ambiguous-precue benefit. Additional analyses ruled out a strategic trial by trial choice of just one of the two ambiguous alternatives and provided evidence for a parallel preparation of both response alternatives when information only about direction or ambiguous precue information is provided.

Keywords: Movement preparation; Precuing paradigm; Lateralized readiness potential; LRP; Contingent negative variation; CNV; Ambiguous precues

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8986.2004.00155.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Psychology, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK 2: Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Publication date: 2004-03-01