Effects of prestimulus interval on phonation initiation reaction times

Latencies for phonation initiation (from adducted, abducted, and a subject method, prephonatory vocal-fold- position) were studied in 30 young adults under an auditory reaction time paradigm as a function of random prestimulus intervals. Shortest latencies were obtained when the auditory stimulus was presented within a 1000- to 2000-millisecond frame. Stimulus delivery at intervals exceeding or preceding this time frame increases the latency of vocal reaction.