The negative priming paradigm: An update and implications for selective attention

Frings, Christian; Schneider, Katja Kerstin; Fox, Elaine · 2015 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3758/s13423-015-0841-4

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Summary

This theoretical review updates the understanding of the Negative Priming (NP) paradigm, a method originally developed to measure attentional selection and selective inhibition. The authors address the long-standing debate regarding whether NP effects stem primarily from active inhibition of distractors or from episodic retrieval processes. By synthesizing research published since the mid-1990s, the paper argues that NP is not driven by a single cognitive mechanism but rather by multiple interacting processes. Consequently, the authors contend that while NP is not an ideal tool for measuring pure inhibition, it remains a valuable paradigm for understanding the multidimensional nature of selection in cognition. The review evaluates several theoretical frameworks, including traditional inhibition and episodic retrieval accounts, alongside newer approaches such as the temporal discrimination theory, the stimulus-response retrieval theory, and the transfer-(in)appropriate processing (TAP/TIP) theory. The temporal discrimination theory posits that NP arises from ambiguity when the attention system must decide if a response is known (old) or unknown (new). The stimulus-response retrieval theory suggests that prime episodes are stored as "event files" binding stimuli and responses; retrieving a previously ignored distractor activates an incompatible response, causing interference. The TAP/TIP theory argues that reinstating processing operations from a previous trial causes interference if those operations are inappropriate for current task demands. The authors also examine empirical findings regarding individual differences, noting that NP is modality-independent (observed in visual, auditory, tactile, and olfactory domains) and is influenced by lifestyle factors like stress and sleep, though age does not generally impair NP performance. Key findings indicate that both inhibitory and retrieval mechanisms contribute to NP effects. Evidence from tasks involving masked primes and single distractors supports the role of retrieval and temporal discrimination, challenging the view that active suppression is necessary for NP. Furthermore, the review highlights that schizophrenia is associated with impaired NP, suggesting deficits in selection mechanisms, whereas other psychiatric disorders do not consistently show reduced NP. Neurophysiological data point to the involvement of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and modifications in early sensory processing components (P1, N1). The authors conclude that because NP tasks inherently combine prime and probe trials, they inevitably engage retrieval processes, making them unsuitable for isolating pure inhibition. Instead, paradigms like the lag-2 repetition effect or object-based Stroop variants are recommended for measuring inhibition exclusively. The paper ultimately positions NP as a robust index for studying the complex, multidimensional processes underlying selective attention.

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• attention selective divided