Abstract

This study examines whether presenting information about an upcoming trial helps task performance even when the information is simultaneously presented with the previous stimulus. In the experiment, a digit between 1 and 9 were shown with the colored frame and participants performed the magnitude and parity tasks based on the frame color. Information for the subsequent trial appeared in the upper right corner. There were four types of cues (control, task+stimulus, task, stimulus cue). Participants showed faster reaction times in the task+stimulus and task cue conditions than in the stimulus and control conditions. The task+stimulus cue facilitates both of repeat and switching trials, whereas the task cue only helps switching trials. The results indicate that predictive information presented with the stimuli relevant to the current trial can facilitate performance of the upcoming trial and the type of provided information also has effect on the task performance.