Abstract

Two hierarchical stimuli, one white and one black, were presented and the effect of flanker's shape on local target processing was examined. The results of three experiments showed that RTs to the local target shape were slower when the global shape of the flanker was compatible with the local target shape, compared to when it was neutral or incompatible (Negative Compatibility Effect, Briand; NCE, 1994). The NCE was always observed regardless of whether or not the flanker's local shape was compatible with the local target. In contrast, positive compatibility effect (PCE) was observed when the local shape of the flanker was compatible with the local target and its global shape was neutral. The PCE was disappeared when the flanker's global shape was not neutral. These results suggest that flanker's global and local shape do not exert independent influences on the processing of local target shape, but rather interact with each other. The effect of flanker's global shape appeared to dominate the effect of flanker's local shape, which is consistent with the global precedence.