Negative affordance effect: automatic response inhibition triggered by handle orientation of non-target object

Abstract

Habituated response tendency associated with affordance of an object is automatically inhibited if this affordance cue is extracted from a non-target object. This study presents two go/no-go experiments investigating whether this response control operates in response selection processes and whether it is linked to conflict-monitoring mechanisms. In the first experiment, the participants performed responses with one hand, and in the second experiment, with two hands. In addition, both experiments consisted of two blocks with varying frequency of go conditions (25%-go vs. 75%-go). The non-target-related response inhibition effect was only observed in Experiment 2 when the task required selecting between two hands. Additionally, the results did not reveal patterns typically related to conflict monitoring when go-frequency is manipulated and when a stimulus–response compatibility effect is examined relative to congruency condition of the previous trial. The study shows that the non-target-related response inhibition assists hand selection and is relatively resistant to conflict-monitoring processes.

Too much to handle? Interference from distractors with similar affordances on target selection for handled objects

“…Only the distractor affordance should be inhibited, and the target object would be processed and selected directly. Predictions of the inhibition hypothesis have been supported by some empirical data [30][31][32][33]. In one study, Vainio et al [31] presented to participants an object with its handle oriented for a right or left-hand grasp.…”

“…Predictions of the inhibition hypothesis have been supported by some empirical data [ 30 – 33 ]. In one study, Vainio et al [ 31 ] presented to participants an object with its handle oriented for a right or left-hand grasp. The object served as a prime of a target line or target arrow oriented to the left or to the right.…”