Hierarchical knowledge influences stimulus-response compatibility effects

The influence of spatial stimulus grouping on stimulus-response compatibili ty effects was investigated in three experiments. Stimuli were grouped as p art of a superordinate unit BY (1) perceptually organizing them (Experiment 1), (2) organizing them on the basis of semantic links (Experiment 2), or (3) arbitrary links (Experiment 3). In some instances the arrangement of th e stimuli resulted in a conflict between two types of spatial relationship: one between stimulus and response and the other between superordinate unit and response. The experiments indicated that it was the latter relationshi p that mainly determined performance in the experiments. Reaction rime anal yses showed that responses were fastest if they spatially corresponded to t he relative location of the superordinate unit of which the stimulus was pa rt. The results are discussed with reference to hierarchical accounts of co ding stimulus information.