Preparing for perception and action (I): The role of grouping in the response-cuing paradigm q Jos J. Adam, a, * Bernhard Hommel, b and Carlo Umilt a c,1 a Department of Movement Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands b Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands c Universit  a di Padova, via Venezia, 8, 35131 Padova, Italy Accepted 28 April 2002 Abstract Human skilled behavior requires preparatory processes that selectively make sensory and motor systems more efficient for perceiving the upcoming stimulus and performing the correct action. We review the literature concerning these preparatory processes as studied by re- sponse-cuing paradigm, and propose a model that accounts for the major findings. According to the Grouping Model, advance or precue information directs a dynamic process of subgroup making—that is, a process of stimulus- and response-set reconfiguration—whereby the internal representation of the task is simplified. The Grouping Model assigns a critical role to the unit of selection, with Gestalt factors and interresponse dependencies mediating the formation and strength of stimulus and response subgroups. In a series of five experiments, we manipulated perceptual and motoric grouping factors, and studied their independent and interactive effects on the pattern of precuing benefits. Generally, the results were consistent with the Grouping ModelÕs account of response-cuing effects. Ó 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved. Keywords: Preparation; Spatial cuing; Response-cuing; Gestalt principles Cognitive Psychology 46 (2003) 302–358 www.elsevier.com/locate/cogpsych Cognitive Psychology q We thank Gordon Logan and two anonymous reviewers for their extensive and constructive comments on an earlier version of this paper. * Corresponding author. Fax: +31-43-3670972. E-mail address: jos.adam@bw.unimaas.nl (J.J. Adam). 1 Carlo Umilt a was supported by a grant from MURST. 0010-0285/03/$ - see front matter Ó 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/S0010-0285(02)00516-9