The binding of an auditory target location to a judgement: A two-component switching approach

In a two-component switching paradigm, in which participants switched between two auditory attention selection criteria (attention component: left vs. right ear) and two judgements (judgement component: number vs. letter judgement), we found high judgement switch costs in attention criterion repetitions, but low costs in attention criterion switches. This finding showed an interaction of components. Previous two-component switching studies observed differently emphasised interaction patterns. In the present study, we explored whether the strength of the interaction pattern reflects the strength of the binding of target location and judgement. Specifically, we investigated whether exogenous target location cueing led to weaker binding than endogenous cueing, and whether preparation for ear selection could influence the binding. Attention switches with auditory exogenous target location cues did not affect the component interaction pattern, whereas a prolonged preparation interval led to a more emphasised pattern. Binding between target location and judgement may therefore be rather automatic and may not necessarily require concurrent component processing. Sufficient time for target location switches with long preparation time may activate the previous trial’s episode or facilitate switches of the subsequent judgement.