Reaction Time Facilitation Research Articles

Reaction time and spinal excitability in a simple reaction time task

H and Tendon reflexes were elicited from subjects at varying intervals after the reaction signal (RS) of a simple reaction time (RT) task when the response involved a rapid plantar flexion of the left foot. It was found that a reflex stimulus presented in close temporal proximity to the RS significantly shortened RT in comparison with the RT when no reflex stimulus was presented. This effect was discussed in terms of the intersensory facilitation of RT. No significant evidence was found in support of previous evidence that RT is delayed when a reflex stimulus occurs about 100 msec after the RS. A large facilitation of reflex amplitude was observed commencing 90–120 msec before the onset of the voluntary movement. This was discussed in terms of the hypothesised stages of information processing involved in the latent period of simple RT.

Auditory signal detectability and facilitation of simple reaction time in psychiatric patients and non-patients

Patients diagnosed on the basis of structured interviews as having affective psychoses were less sensitive in detecting the presence of a transient auditory signal than were schizophrenic patients or non-patients. Patients with affective psychoses also benefited more (their reaction time was more reduced) than the other two groups from the presence of a second auditory transient.

Intersensory facilitation of reaction time: Energy summation or preparation enhancement?

Intersensory facilitation of reaction time: Energy summation or preparation enhancement?

Preparatory state effects in intersensory facilitation

Four trained Ss participated in a task concerned with intersensory facilitation of reaction time (RT). Discriminative RT to a visual event was longer than discriminative RT to a combined auditory-visual event, even though the auditory event by itself was a catch signal. The magnitude of this difference was greater with a long (5.5 sec) as opposed to short (.5 sec) foreperiod delay. This finding supported the hypothesis that the auditory component of the combined event serves a preparatory state role by enhancing response readiness, a role that is manifest to the extent that S’s prior degree of preparation is nonoptimal.

Can we see and hear at the same time?: Some recent studies of intersensory facilitation of reaction time

Visual reaction time is facilitated by a simultaneous auditory event. This finding poses a problem for proponents of a single channel theory of attention since the auditory and visual events should be mediated by different input channels, only one of which is accessible to attention and processing at a time. In order to reconcile this discrepancy with single channel theory, two logically independent models were adduced, both of which assume a non-attentional parallel pathway with properties similar to those ascribed to the recticular formation. The first, or energy integration model, assumes that stimulus intensities may add across modalities causing the joint event to be effectively stronger than the visual event alone. The second or preparatory state model assumes that response preparation, defined as a generalized disposition to make an overt response regardless of the specific nature of the response, may proceed in parallel with specific stimulus and response selection and may be initiated by non-attended stimuli. Evidence was found in separate studies to support both models.

Cross-modality effects upon choice reaction time

Facilitation of reaction time by a second stimulus in another sense modality than the initial signal for response extended over a longer range of interstimulus intervals when the presented sequence was visual-auditory as compared with auditory-visual. The expected difference between visual and auditory reaction times was diminished or eliminated with paired bi-modal stimuli.

Intersensory facilitation of reaction time

Human reaction times (RTs) to a photic stimulus were found to be shortened by an after-coming, auditory stimulus. The effect was linearly related to interstimulus interval; the observed range was 20–120 ms. Faster RTs were found for shorter intervals.

Statistical facilitation of simple reaction times.

Transactions of the New York Academy of SciencesVolume 24, Issue 5 Series II p. 574-590 DIVISION OF PSYCHOLOGY: STATISTICAL FACILITATION OF SIMPLE REACTION TIMES* David H. Raab, David H. Raab Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, N.Y.Search for more papers by this author David H. Raab, David H. Raab Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, N.Y.Search for more papers by this author First published: March 1962 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2164-0947.1962.tb01433.xCitations: 425 † This paper was presented at a meeting of the Division on October 16, 1961. AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume24, Issue5 Series IIMarch 1962Pages 574-590 RelatedInformation