Stimulus priming

A change in processing an event because its representation has been activated before the event occurs. The direction and mechanism of the effect depend on the task and model.

In the SOP model, an associated cue or context activates elements of an expected event into secondary activation before that event occurs. It is conceptually distinct from residual activation caused by recent presentation of the event itself.

In the SOP model, a recent stimulus presentation leaves elements in secondary activation, making fewer elements available for primary activation on repetition. This supplies a transient response-decrement mechanism without requiring a new association.