Which Stimuli Can Trigger Control Adaptation?

The Conflict Monitoring Theory suggests that when conflict trials are detected, an aversive (negative) signal is generated and cognitive control is heightened, resulting in improved performance in subsequent trials. Previous studies have indicated that this control adaptation can also be induced by aversive stimuli outside of conflict trials. Low perceptual fluency has been found to evoke a negative affective reaction that triggers increased cognitive effort. This research aims to expand the understanding of stimuli that can induce control adaptation when conflict is not present by evaluating the differences in control adaptation elicited by asymmetric versus symmetric stimuli, as well as images of eyes with small versus large pupils.