@article{10.1371/journal.pone.0064712, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0064712}, author = {Peschke, Claudia AND Olk, Bettina AND Hilgetag, Claus C.}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, publisher = {Public Library of Science}, title = {Should I Stay or Should I Go – Cognitive Conflict in Multi-Attribute Signals Probed with East and West German ‘Ampelmännchen’ Traffic Signs}, year = {2013}, month = {05}, volume = {8}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0064712}, pages = {1-5}, abstract = {In post-unification Germany, lingering conflicts between East and West Germans have found some unusual outlets, including a debate of the relative superiority of East and West German ‘Ampelmännchen’ pedestrian traffic signs. In our study, we probed the visual efficacy of East and West German Ampelmännchen signs with a Stroop-like conflict task. We found that the distinctive East German man-with-hat figures were more resistant to conflicting information, and in turn produced greater interference when used as distractors. These findings demonstrate Stroop-like effects for real-life objects, such as traffic signs, and underline the practical utility of an East German icon.}, number = {5}, }