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We investigate repetition suppression (RS) for German words and faces using an adaptor-level-design with varying durations. We aim to investigate: (1) whether RS exists for German words, (2) how intensely RS arises with respect to the S1 presentation duration and (3) how fast RS recovers with respect to the duration of the ISI. RS refers to decreased neural responses following stimulus repetition (Grill-Spector et al., 2006). RS has been demonstrated for faces by examining the ERP component N170. This component is characterized by a peak latency of 160-170 ms after presentation of a stimulus, an occipito-temporal topography and a larger amplitude after the presentation of faces compared to other objects. However, the N170 was also observed for words, letters or character strings. Although there are some findings for RS to letters and Chinese characters, RS has not been shown for German words yet. Inconsistent findings in RS research could be based on the use of different experimental designs. Whereas in some studies researchers used block designs with repeated stimuli, in other studies adapter-level-designs with many sets of stimuli were used. In adaptor-level-designs a first stimulus (S1) is presented, followed by an interstimulus interval (ISI), a second stimulus (S2) and an intertrial interval (ITI). The two stimuli are either of the same category (e.g. word – word) or of a different category (e.g. word – face). We use such an adaptor-level-design with different durations for S1-presentation and ISI as done by Feuerriegel et al. (2015) with face and word stimuli.

In this subproject, we want to look at how anticipated affect guides the learning of new behavior. Hence, we want to focus on the first few trials of a deterministic learning task and want to measure how and what kind of affect is involved.

Mental operations such as selecting contextually relevant and ignoring task-irrelevant, distracting information are often summarized under the term of cognitive control. Once distracting or conflicting information are detected, the cognitive system activates compensatory adjustment processes. The present study investigates whether implicit gender bias influences (the degree of automatic) cognitive control. The current study will answer the question whether the inhibition of implicit gender bias in a Gender Flanker task can be facilitated by activating cognitive control in a preceding trial. By measuring interindividual differences in sexist and feminist beliefs, the study will consider the role of personal relevance for control adjustment. The majority of participants will be Psychology students from the University of Bamberg. In a computer experiment, participants are presented classic Flanker Trials consisting of three five-letter strings and Gender Flanker Trials alternately. Gender Flanker Trials comprise male or female names as targets flanked by stereotypical adjectives. Afterwards, participants’ personal relevance is measured with German versions of the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, the Modern Sexism Scale and the Measurement of Feminist Attitudes.