Time course of free-choice priming effects explained by a simple accumulator model

► We examine the time course of priming effects of masked primes on motor responses. ► Performance was measured on speeded forced-choice and free-choice response trials. ► Priming effects were largely independent from conscious perception of the primes. ► Priming was differentially modulated by characteristics of target and prime stimuli. ► An accumulator model that integrates various sources of evidence explains the effects.