RT patterns and chunks in SRT tasks a reply to Ji

Authors: Waldemar Kirsch Albrecht Sebald Joachim Hoffmann

Publish Date: 2009/06/27

Volume: 74, Issue: 3, Pages: 352-358

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Abstract

Previous research has shown that the formation of units or chunks contributes to sequence learning in serial reaction time SRT tasks Koch Hoffmann Psychological Research 6322–35 2000 However some of these results were assumed to be unrelated to sequence learning and to reflect preexistent response tendencies Jiménez Psychological Research 72387–396 2008 In the Experiment of this study we aimed to evaluate this issue One group of participants responded to a strongly structured sequence of digits by pressing one out of six response keys depending on digit identity In a second experimental group a weakly structured sequence was presented which contained comparable transitions among the single items but did not have series of ascending and descending triplets of successive digits The results indicated that serial learning in general as well as response tendencies to certain fragments of the sequence were modulated by the manipulation of the strength of relational patterns The data are consistent with the notion that relational patterns contribute to the formation of chunks as suggested in the original study

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