The nature of cross-modal color-word interference effects

Author(s): Cowan, N., ValleInclan, F.

Journal/Book: Percept Psychophys. 1998; 60: 1710 Fortview Rd, Austin, TX 78704. Psychonomic Soc Inc. 761-767.

Abstract: Cowan and Barren (1987) and Cowan (1989b) reported that color-naming performance was slowed by spoken color names drawn from the same set but presented in an order unrelated to the printed colors. Although Miles, Madden, and Jones (1989) and Miles and Jones(1989) were unable to replicate this cross-modal effect, it is replicated here in two experiments with much better experimental control than before. However, the effect is shown to depend upon the relative timing of the color and word in away that conflicts with the theoretical account that Cowan and Barren offered. While Cowan and Barren suggested that an irrelevant color word would contaminate the response set if this word occupied short-term memory when the color was about to be named, it appears that interference actually occurs only if the memory representation was formed very recently and had not been inhibited. Further implications for processing are discussed.

Note: Article Cowan N, Univ Missouri, Dept Psychol, 210 Mcalester Hall, Columbia,MO 65211 USA

Keyword(s): VISUAL STROOP INTERFERENCE; SELECTIVE ATTENTION; TIME-COURSE; IRRELEVANT SPEECH; UNATTENDED SPEECH; MEMORY; TASK; FACILITATION; INFORMATION; DISRUPTION

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