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Reaction time and probability on isolated terms.

R Gottsdanker1, K Kent

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.

Journal of Motor Behavior
|September 1, 1978
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Response times are not symmetrical when trial probability changes. Participants were slower to respond to low-probability trials in high-probability blocks, suggesting motivation influences reaction time probability effects.

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Human Factors

Background:

  • The probability of a stimulus influences reaction time (RT).
  • Previous research suggests RT probability effects are symmetrical.
  • The underlying mechanisms of this effect require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the asymmetry of the reaction-time probability effect.
  • To determine if trial block characteristics influence response initiation.
  • To explore potential motivational factors underlying the observed asymmetry.

Main Methods:

  • An experiment was conducted with 64 college students.
  • Participants completed trials with varying probabilities (high and low).
  • Reaction times were measured for probe trials embedded within different probability blocks.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • A significant asymmetrical probability effect was observed.
  • Reaction time (RT) dropped substantially for high-probability probes in low-probability blocks.
  • RT showed only a minor increase for low-probability probes in high-probability blocks.

Conclusions:

  • The reaction-time probability effect is asymmetrical, contradicting previous assumptions.
  • Low-probability responses are influenced by trial block context, unlike high-probability responses.
  • A motivational account, where participants are averse to preparing for certain low-probability events, aligns with the findings.