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Interhemispheric transmission time in an auditory two-choice reaction task
1National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway.
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
|June 1, 1993
Summary
This study investigated auditory reaction times in right-handed males. Results showed no hemispheric asymmetry in information transfer, with faster responses in uncrossed conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human Motor Control
Background:
- Reaction time (RT) and movement time (MT) are key metrics in understanding human sensorimotor processing.
- Investigating interhemispheric transmission time (IHTT) provides insights into the speed of information transfer between brain hemispheres.
- Auditory reaction tasks offer a different modality to explore cognitive and motor processes compared to visual tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the effect of ear of auditory stimulus presentation on unimanual reaction time and movement time in right-handed males.
- To estimate and compare interhemispheric transmission time (IHTT) for both reaction time (RT) and the first component of movement (MT1).
- To determine if there is an asymmetry in information processing speed between the cerebral hemispheres during an auditory choice reaction task.
Main Methods:
- A unimanual auditory choice reaction task was administered to 16 right-handed male participants.
- Participants responded by pressing a target button contralateral or ipsilateral to the ear receiving the auditory stimulus.
- Reaction time (RT) and the first component of movement (MT1) were measured, and IHTT was calculated based on crossed vs. uncrossed conditions.
Main Results:
- A significant 'Ear' x 'Hand' interaction was observed for both RT and MT1, indicating faster responses in uncrossed (ipsilateral) conditions compared to crossed (contralateral) conditions.
- Interhemispheric transmission time (IHTT) for RT was estimated at 16 ms, consistent with previous visual reaction task findings.
- Interhemispheric transmission time (IHTT) for MT1 was estimated at 13 ms, a novel finding for this movement component.
Conclusions:
- The study found no evidence of hemispheric asymmetry in the speed of information transfer during this auditory choice reaction task.
- Uncrossed motor responses were significantly faster than crossed responses, highlighting the influence of effector-stimulus arrangement on performance.
- The estimated IHTT for MT1 provides new quantitative data on interhemispheric communication during the initial phase of motor execution.
