Is the affordance effect a Simon-like effect?

Previous attempts to explain the affordance effect (AE) led to two major accounts. According to Tucker and Ellis (1998), AE reflects an activation, driven by the graspable part of the stimulus-objects (typically their handles), of specific motor programs for manual interaction. Alternatively, Cho and Proctor (2010) consider AE as a Simon-like effect. Here a comparative investigation of these two accounts is presented. Right-handed participants performed a go/no-go task in which graspable-handled objects on a touch-screen were used as stimuli. Since the Simon effect (SE) is typically absent under this condition, the presence of AE should support the motor account, whereas its absence the spatial account. Reaction times (RTs), reach-to-touch times (MTs) and spatial coordinates of the touch on the screen were recorded. Results from the RTs and MTs analyses showed no AE, supporting the spatial account. On the other hand, the analysis of the spatial coordinates showed a slightly shift of the touch toward the location of the handle, particularly for the right hand, supporting the motor account. In conclusion, it seems that the role of motor and spatial mechanisms for the AE might depend on both the specific paradigm that is used and the performance measures that are recorded.