scholarly journals Combining Visual Contrast Information with Sound Can Produce Faster Decisions

Information ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgitta Dresp-Langley ◽  
Marie Monfouga

Pieron’s and Chocholle’s seminal psychophysical work predicts that human response time to information relative to visual contrast and/or sound frequency decreases when contrast intensity or sound frequency increases. The goal of this study is to bring to the forefront the ability of individuals to use visual contrast intensity and sound frequency in combination for faster perceptual decisions of relative depth (“nearer”) in planar (2D) object configurations based on physical variations in luminance contrast. Computer controlled images with two abstract patterns of varying contrast intensity, one on the left and one on the right, preceded or not by a pure tone of varying frequency, were shown to healthy young humans in controlled experimental sequences. Their task (two-alternative, forced-choice) was to decide as quickly as possible which of two patterns, the left or the right one, in a given image appeared to “stand out as if it were nearer” in terms of apparent (subjective) visual depth. The results showed that the combinations of varying relative visual contrast with sounds of varying frequency exploited here produced an additive effect on choice response times in terms of facilitation, where a stronger visual contrast combined with a higher sound frequency produced shorter forced-choice response times. This new effect is predicted by audio-visual probability summation.

Author(s):  
Birgitta Dresp-Langley ◽  
Marie Monfouga

Pieron's and Chocholle’s seminal psychophysical work predicts that human response time to information relative to visual contrast and/or sound frequency decreases when contrast intensity or sound frequency increases. The goal of this study is to bring to the fore the ability of individuals to use visual contrast intensity and sound frequency in combination for faster perceptual decisions of relative depth (“nearer”) in planar (2D) object configurations on the basis of physical variations in luminance contrast. Computer controlled images with two abstract patterns of varying contrast intensity, one on the left and one on the right, preceded or not by a pure tone of varying frequency, were shown to healthy young humans in controlled experimental sequences. Their task (two-alternative forced-choice) was to decide as quickly as possible which of two patterns, the left or the right one, in a given image appeared to “stand out as if it were nearer” in terms of apparent (subjective) visual depth. The results show that the combinations of varying relative visual contrast with sounds of varying frequency exploited here produced an additive effect on choice response times in terms of facilitation, where a stronger visual contrast combined with a higher sound frequency produced shorter forced-choice response times. This new effect is predicted by cross-modal audio-visual probability summation.


2007 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 514-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joy L. Hendrick ◽  
Jamie R. Switzer

As some states allow motorists to use hands-free cell phones only while driving, this study was done to examine some braking responses to see if conversing on these two types of cell phones affects quick responding. College-age drivers ( n = 25) completed reaction time trials in go/no-go situations under three conditions: control (no cell phone or conversation), and conversing on hands-free and hand-held cell phones. Their task involved moving the right foot from one pedal to another as quickly as possible in response to a visual signal in a lab setting. Significantly slower reaction times, movement times, and total response times were found for both cell phone conditions than for the control but no differences between hands-free and hand-held phone conditions. These findings provide additional support that talking on cell phones, regardless if it is hands-free or hand-held, reduces speed of information processing.


The physical condition is checked by the panel leader using a question­ naire or simply by asking the test persons according to the guidelines of Germany and the United Kingdom. Only the German guideline tests reli­ ability of panel members by repeated measurements with the same odorant. Problems of honesty are minimized by forced choice technique (France, Netherlands). In the German guideline persons with more than 20% of errors in more than three test series are excluded. 5.2 Panel size The extent to which a panel constitutes a representative sample of the population depends directly on the numbers of panel members. For practical reasons a cxxrpromise must be sought between costs and the representative­ ness of the result, and this depends on the question to be answered: basic measurement e.g. emission standards or only comparative measurements, e.g. odor abatement efficiency. Nether­ Germany United France lands Kingdom basic measure­ 8-15 10 6-86-8 ments comparative measurements > 4 Table 5: Panel size. 6. CCECLUSICNS - There is more or less agreement in all guidelines about general back­ ground conditions. - The limit method is proposed as detection method in all guidelines. The indication of response is either yes/no or correct/incorrect. The latter, forced choice technique, may certainly give lower odor thres­ holds. - The mathematical treatment of data will produce only slight differences in the threshold values. - For the panel size different members are given. 8 people appears the right size for the panel. - Selection of panelists is the most difficult question and large varia­ tions of threshold data are expected due to this problem. No generally accepted procedure exists and only vague recanmendations are given in the guidelines. A possible solution will be the evaluation of the sensi­ tivity distribution of a large panel (>25) of the actual odor to be tested, and screening the panel members according to their position in the distribution. However, this procedure might not be suitable in practice.


1.2 Method of constant stimuli (Method of frequency) By the Method of Frequency the stimulus range is selected in discrete intervals so that the frequency of positive answers is distributed over the range between 1% and 99%. In general, the frequency of positive res­ ponses either for an individual or for a group, is cumulatively normally distributed over a geometric intensity continuum. The absolute odor thre­ shold can then be defined as the effective dose corresponding to an arbi­ trarily selected frequency of positive responses, ordinarily 50% : ED^: Effective dose at the 50% level. 3.1.3 Signal detection The Signal Detection principle is a determination of the relation­ ship between hits and false alarms. In determining signal detectability, a stimulus or a few stimuli are presented in random order, alternating with noise. Since sensory impressions resulting frcm the presentation of stimulus versus noise are assumed to be normally distributed over the same intensity continuum and to have the same dispersion, the index of detectability d' for p (hits) minus p (false) indicates the extent to which the two distributions overlap. 3.2 Indication of response 3.2.1 "Yes" or "no" response In the classical evaluation yes-no answers are dependent on the sub­ jects1 honesty and motivation among other factors. However, yes-no ans­ wers may be evaluated if they are presented a sufficiently large number of times alternating with blanks. 3.2.2 forced choice technique One method of controlling response perseveration and otter antici­ pation factors is to use a forced choice response indication based on two or more response categories. In the measurement of odors the panelist has to report the temporal position of positive stimuli in a series of randan blanks. If the concentration is below the threshold, the test sub­ jects will guess. As the odorant concentration will increase, the rela­ tive cumulative frequency for identification of the correct sample will be greater. In order to determine the relative odor recognition a cor­ rection must be made. 3.3 Size of stimulus intervals 3.3.1 Concentration intervals In selecting the stimulus continuum in threshold determination, the relation between just noticeable difference in relation to the intensity of stimuli is of interest. In accordance with Weber's law this quotient is assumed to be a constant. Therefore it would appear best to determine absolute thresholds on an intensity continuum in the form of a gecxnetric progression. 3.2.2 Time intervals Because of adaptation processes the exposure time until reaching a decision should be limited. Also the interval between two stimuli must be observed.


2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Vandekerckhove ◽  
Francis Tuerlinckx ◽  
Michael D. Lee

1993 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold Pashler ◽  
Mark Carrier ◽  
James Hoffman

Four dual-task experiments required a speeded manual choice response to a tone in a close temporal proximity to a saccadic eye movement task. In Experiment 1, subjects made a saccade towards a single transient; in Experiment 2, a red and a green colour patch were presented to left and right, and the saccade was to which ever patch was the pre-specified target colour. There was some slowing of the eye movement, but neither task combination showed typical dual-task interference (the “psychological refractory effect”). However, more interference was observed when the direction of the saccade depended on whether a central colour patch was red or green, or when the saccade was directed towards the numerically higher of two large digits presented to the left and the right. Experiment 5 examined a vocal second task, for comparison. The findings might reflect the fact that eye movements can be directed by two separate brain systems–-the superior colliculus and the frontal eye fields; commands from the latter but not the former may be delayed by simultaneous unrelated sensorimotor tasks.


Author(s):  
John C. Hemingway ◽  
Ronald A. Erickson

This experiment examined the relative effects of (1) image size and (2) number of TV raster lines making up the image upon an observer's ability to identify 16 different geometric symbols on TV. Four raster-line values per symbol height were each tested at three image angular subtenses. Eight subjects were told to identify 25 symbols for each of the 12 conditions; all had 20/12 near and far visual acuity or better. The forced-choice method was used; no limits were placed on response times. The results showed that (1) at least eight raster lines per symbol height and (2) a symbol subtense of 10' of arc are necessary to obtain good symbol legibility on TV. An equation is developed from these and other data which quantifies the tradeoff between line number and angular subtense for different levels of performance.


2020 ◽  
pp. 001316442093486
Author(s):  
Niklas Schulte ◽  
Heinz Holling ◽  
Paul-Christian Bürkner

Forced-choice questionnaires can prevent faking and other response biases typically associated with rating scales. However, the derived trait scores are often unreliable and ipsative, making interindividual comparisons in high-stakes situations impossible. Several studies suggest that these problems vanish if the number of measured traits is high. To determine the necessary number of traits under varying sample sizes, factor loadings, and intertrait correlations, simulations were performed for the two most widely used scoring methods, namely the classical (ipsative) approach and Thurstonian item response theory (IRT) models. Results demonstrate that while especially Thurstonian IRT models perform well under ideal conditions, both methods yield insufficient reliabilities in most conditions resembling applied contexts. Moreover, not only the classical estimates but also the Thurstonian IRT estimates for questionnaires with equally keyed items remain (partially) ipsative, even when the number of traits is very high (i.e., 30). This result not only questions earlier assumptions regarding the use of classical scores in high-dimensional questionnaires, but it also raises doubts about many validation studies on Thurstonian IRT models because correlations of (partially) ipsative scores with external criteria cannot be interpreted in a usual way.


1960 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
CLAUDE J. BARTLETT

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