Action set from training-based versus non-training-based knowledge : subjective and performance effects

The human ability to perform spontaneous, adaptable action plans that allow us to\ud interact with the environment is trivial. What are not trivial about these actions are the\ud underlying mechanisms that allows for such complex, flexible action production. This\ud ability to intentionally configure, hold the action sets in mind, and execute them\ud voluntarily, has been referred to by scientists as a ???prepared reflex.??? Recent findings\ud suggest that working memory is essential for performing prepared reflexes (Meiran &\ud Cohen-Kdoshay, 2012). In this thesis, I review the theoretical and empirical research on\ud action control, and present two studies that investigated subjective and behavioral aspects\ud of the prepared reflex theory. I hypothesized that a) prepared reflexes and automatized\ud action plans follow the same pattern as Stimulus-Response conflicts, and b) the\ud subjective experience of prepared reflexes are stronger than automatized action plans.\ud Implications of the finding are discussed