Priming effect: n. the presentation of one stimulus (the prime) influences the response to a later stimulus
The priming effect occurs when a certain stimulus (the prime) activates certain mental pathways and enhances one's response to a related stimulus (the target). This effect can clearly be seen in word-completion tasks. When participants are given incomplete words to finish, they are better able to perform the task when they have recently seen the word in a separate, unrelated task. This happens below the conscious awareness of the participant.
Priming can either have a positive or negative effect; it has a positive effect when exposure to the prime facilitates the response to the later target, and has a negative effect when exposure to the prime actually deters a response to the later target.
Links to References:
http://www.interaction-design.org/encyclopedia/priming.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priming_(psychology)
Photo Credit:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dVZXNEvli08/Tzwi4w4pVxI/AAAAAAAAAA0/YS8Xl-AMZ9s/s1600/0900-priming-your-brain.jpg
Priming can either have a positive or negative effect; it has a positive effect when exposure to the prime facilitates the response to the later target, and has a negative effect when exposure to the prime actually deters a response to the later target.
Links to References:
http://www.interaction-design.org/encyclopedia/priming.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priming_(psychology)
Photo Credit:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dVZXNEvli08/Tzwi4w4pVxI/AAAAAAAAAA0/YS8Xl-AMZ9s/s1600/0900-priming-your-brain.jpg