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Electrophysiological evidence for early perceptual facilitation and efficient categorization of self‐related stimuli during an I mplicit A ssociation T est measuring neuroticism
Author(s) -
Fleischhauer Monika,
Strobel Alexander,
Diers Kersten,
Enge Sören
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/psyp.12162
Subject(s) - psychology , categorization , facilitation , p3b , perception , neuroticism , cognitive psychology , cognition , stimulus (psychology) , implicit association test , event related potential , personality , developmental psychology , neuroscience , social psychology , philosophy , epistemology
The I mplicit A ssociation T est ( IAT ) is a widely used latency‐based categorization task that indirectly measures the strength of automatic associations between target and attribute concepts. So far, little is known about the perceptual and cognitive processes underlying personality IAT s. Thus, the present study examined event‐related potential indices during the execution of an IAT measuring neuroticism ( N = 70). The IAT effect was strongly modulated by the P 1 component indicating early facilitation of relevant visual input and by a P 3b‐like late positive component reflecting the efficacy of stimulus categorization. Both components covaried, and larger amplitudes led to faster responses. The results suggest a relationship between early perceptual and semantic processes operating at a more automatic, implicit level and later decision‐related categorization of self‐relevant stimuli contributing to the IAT effect.