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Programming time as a function of response duration: a replication of "dit-dah" without possible guessing artifacts.
1Department of Psychology, California State University, Hayward, CA, USA.
Journal of Motor Behavior
|March 1, 1982
Summary
Reaction time increases with response duration for unexpected movements, but not for expected ones. This finding supports response duration as a key factor in cognitive complexity theories.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human Factors
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Previous research on reaction time in the 'dit-dah' paradigm suggested a link between response complexity and anticipation.
- An alternative interpretation proposed selective anticipation as a factor influencing choice reaction time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between reaction time and response duration for both anticipated and unanticipated movements.
- To clarify the role of selective anticipation in the 'dit-dah' paradigm.
- To test the hypothesis that response duration is a key parameter of cognitive complexity.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed simple and choice reaction time tasks using the 'dit-dah' paradigm.
- Movement probability (high for anticipated, low for unanticipated) and required response duration were manipulated.
- Reaction time and response duration were measured.
Main Results:
- Reaction time was significantly longer for longer-duration responses in low-probability, unanticipated movements.
- Reaction time was independent of response duration for high-probability, anticipated movements.
- These results were consistent across simple and choice reaction time tasks.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the interpretation that response duration, not selective anticipation, influences reaction time in unanticipated movements.
- Response duration is confirmed as a critical factor contributing to cognitive complexity, as proposed by the 'memory drum theory'.