Foreperiod duration and the timecourse of preparation
article
There is a clear conflict in the literature between studies which report a reduction and those which report a delay of reaction time to a signal (S2), which is just preceded by a non-informative signal (S1). The hypothesis is tested that these diverging results are due to the size of the foreperiod (FP) between a warning signal (W) and S1. In the first experiment S1 and S2 were both visual, while S1 was auditory and S2 was visual in the second experiment. With two visual signals a delay was found at FP of 1 sec and a reduction at FP of 5 sec, provided that the interval between S1 and S2 (ISI) exceeded 150 msec. Insertion of S1 just before arrival of S2 virtually eliminates the traditional foreperiod effect. The latter result was also obtained in the second experiment. When S1 is auditory, the reduction of RT at FP of 5 sec is found at much shorter FPs, and no delay at FP of 1 sec is observed. The results are explained most readily by a preparation theory, which assumes that the speed of preparatory adjustment is variable. © 1972.
Topics
TNO Identifier
4355
Source
Acta Psychologica, 36, pp. 60-71.
Pages
60-71
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