Positive and negative congruency effects in masked priming: a neuro-computational model based on representation, attention, and conflict.

Studies on masked and unmasked priming have long shown reliable positive effects of the congruent prime on target processing. Paradoxically, a negative effect has also been found, showing faster and more accurate responses in the incongruent compared to the congruent trials. Positive effects have been found with a short time between the prime and the target, while negative effects have been found with a long time between the prime and the target. This has been modeled by assuming that the prime initiates a motor self-inhibitory process that causes these effects (Bowman, H., Schlaghecken, F., Eimer, M., 2006. A neural network model of inhibitory processes and cognitive control. Vis. Cogn. 13, 401-480). We have developed an alternative explanation based on attentional neuro-modulation. In this paper we show that attentional neuro-modulation can be used to model a wide range of findings in this area.