Stimulus-Response Compatibility in the Programming of Speech

Ss (N = 8 Coll students) chose between sequences of one syllable (eg, /gi/ vs /bi/), two syllables (eg, /gibi/ vs /gubu/), & three syllables (eg, /gibidi/ vs /gubudu/), when /i/ sequences were signaled by high-pitched tones & /u/ sequences were signaled by low-pitched tones (high compatibility), or the reverse (low compatibility). Choice times were additively affected by sequence length & compatibility. A second experiment (N = 2 groups, 4 Coll students each) showed attenuated compatibility effects for sequences with different vowels in the first & second syllables. These results replicate previously reported results for choices between finger sequences, which suggests that the same programming methods are used in both output domains. Evidently, choices between response sequences can be achieved by selecting a distinguishing parameter & assigning it in a serial fashion to partially prepared motor subprograms. 2 Tables, 1 Figure, 27 References. HA