Stimulus-Response Compatibility Is Information-Action Compatibility

Abstract

Stimulus-response compatibility experiments usually employ simple stimuli (e.g., colored lights) and simple responses (e.g., keypresses). The ecological approach to perception and action, on the other hand, emphasizes higher order quantities, information, and action. The three choice reaction time experiments reported here demonstrate the utility of the higher order descriptors for understanding compatibility effects. In Experiment 1, proximal-distal responses were shown to be compatible with the approach-withdrawal information embodied in a two-dimensional kinematic pattern. In Experiment 2, compatibility effects reflected unique combinations of stimulus location, geometric information about distance, and the response. In Experiment 3, a compatibility effect was shown to be a function of an action rather than a mere movement. These results favor an informational description of stimuli and emphasize the functional significance of responses.