Abstract
In this study, we analyze the response times of students to yes/no decision tasks from the perspective of network science. We analyze the properties of the natural visibility graphs (NVG) associated with their reaction time series. We observe that the degree distribution of these graphs usually fits a power-law distribution p ( x ) = x − α . We study the range in which parameter α occurs and the changes of this exponent with respect to the age and gender of the students. In addition to this, we also study the links between the parameter α and the parameters of the ex-Gaussian distribution that best fit the response times for each subject.
Highlights
Attention can be assessed with different instruments: standardized questionnaires, clinical interviews, direct observation of target behaviors, physiological and medical tests, functional magnetic resonance, or through experimental tasks implemented with different software programs, as in references [2,3,4,5,6,7], which is the method used for the present study
Several studies have recently been developed with the goal of setting a correspondence between the three parameters μ, σ, and τ of an ex-Gaussian distribution of response times (RTs) derived from performance tests, such as Conners’ continuous performance tests [33], with attention disorders
We followed a radically different approach, closer to time series analysis, in which we provided a simple graphic interpretation of the results provided by natural visibility graphs (NVGs)
Summary
Attention is a broad psychological concept, and as a mental construct, it can only be measured indirectly [1] through behaviors such as motor or visual reactions. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder in the childhood period. It can profoundly affect the academic performance, well-being, and social interactions of children. Further information on attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders can be found in references [10,11,12,13] In this context, time reaction or response times (RTs) are described as the most accurate measure of perception/attention, decision-making, and other cognitive processes to be considered in clinical and normative settings [14,15,16]. It can help us to find different behavioral pattern differences by age or gender, in visual attention and reaction time of school-aged children [17,18]
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