Data for Either or neither, but not both : locating the effects of masked primes

This project investigates the relationship between self-inhibition processes in low-level motor control, assumed to be mediated by basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical circuits, and classical high-level response inhibition processes, assumed to be mediated by central executive mechanisms in the frontal cortex. In mainly behavioural experiments, hybrid designs are employed that combine the Masked Prime paradigm (which taps into low-level control) with high-level control paradigms such as Simon or Go-Nogo tasks. This makes it possible to study interactions as well as correlations between high- and low-level control effects. By focussing on the motor domain, the project aims to provide a systematic overview of the relationship within and between high-level and low-level control processes. Such information will be useful as a basis for future research into other areas of cognitive inhibition, many of which might at least partly reflect underlying response inhibition processes