PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Theoretical Background: How does a performer become an expert? Numerous studies indicate that in every domain the road to high performance leads through intense training (Ericsson, 1996) and dedicated practice (Ackerman and Cianciolo, 2000). Both are essential to improve cognitive perceptual skills such as visual information processing linked with the demonstrated performance (Schack et al., 2014). This holds for sports, as well as for chess (Charness et al., 2001). A method to gain deeper insights into visual information processing is to analyse priming effects which occur when subconscious stimuli (primes) are processed which precede conscious stimuli (targets). Güldenpenning et al. (2011) employed not consciously perceivable stimuli and indicated that subliminal priming of movement phases affects target processing. Kiesel et al. (2009) successfully applied a priming paradigm to chess and indicated that only chess experts perform in responding significantly faster for congruent prime-target pairs (i. e., both showing either check or no check). Research Question: In Küchelmann et al. (2022) we asked if in a priming paradigm the target complexity or the task itself reveals chess expertise-dependent limitations in perception and information processing. Method: We designed two priming-experiments with gradual increase of the target (check versus no check, check versus mate) and task complexity (judging static positions versus planning the next move; short versus long prime duration). Main Findings; Our results indicate limitations in perception and information processing related as well to the target complexity as to the task. For short prime duration experts show priming effects for less complex target content only. Interestingly, for longer prime duration but more complex targets and tasks, all participants reveal priming effects. In summary, we argue that experts are brilliant in detecting/ anticipating potential threats to the king due to stored chunks of checking and mating constellations.