scholarly journals Optimal multisensory decision-making in a reaction-time task

eLife ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Drugowitsch ◽  
Gregory C DeAngelis ◽  
Eliana M Klier ◽  
Dora E Angelaki ◽  
Alexandre Pouget
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Stimulus Presentation ◽  
Sensory Inputs ◽  
Time Task ◽  
Sensory Modalities ◽  
Presentation Time ◽  
Sensory Evidence ◽  
Decision Speed

Humans and animals can integrate sensory evidence from various sources to make decisions in a statistically near-optimal manner, provided that the stimulus presentation time is fixed across trials. Little is known about whether optimality is preserved when subjects can choose when to make a decision (reaction-time task), nor when sensory inputs have time-varying reliability. Using a reaction-time version of a visual/vestibular heading discrimination task, we show that behavior is clearly sub-optimal when quantified with traditional optimality metrics that ignore reaction times. We created a computational model that accumulates evidence optimally across both cues and time, and trades off accuracy with decision speed. This model quantitatively explains subjects's choices and reaction times, supporting the hypothesis that subjects do, in fact, accumulate evidence optimally over time and across sensory modalities, even when the reaction time is under the subject's control.

Cardiac Cycle Phase and Movement and Reaction Times

1976 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 767-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matti J. Saari ◽  
Bruce A. Pappas
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Cardiac Cycle ◽  
Visual Stimuli ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Stimulus Presentation ◽  
Stimulus Onset ◽  
Cycle Phase ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Time Task

The EKG was recorded while Ss differentially responded to auditory or visual stimuli in a reaction time task. The EKG record was analyzed by dividing each R-R interval encompassing a stimulus presentation into 9 equal phases. Reaction times were determined as a function of the phase encompassing stimulus onset while movement times were determined for the phase in which the response was initiated. Only reaction time significantly varied with cardiac cycle, with reactions during the second phase being slower than later phases.

Modeling Within-Person Variance in Reaction Time Data of Older Adults

GeroPsych ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 169-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Rast ◽  
Daniel Zimprich
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Reaction Time Data ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Time Task ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Second Wave

In order to model within-person (WP) variance in a reaction time task, we applied a mixed location scale model using 335 participants from the second wave of the Zurich Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Aging. The age of the respondents and the performance in another reaction time task were used to explain individual differences in the WP variance. To account for larger variances due to slower reaction times, we also used the average of the predicted individual reaction time (RT) as a predictor for the WP variability. Here, the WP variability was a function of the mean. At the same time, older participants were more variable and those with better performance in another RT task were more consistent in their responses.

Reaction Speed as a Function of Stimulus Intensity in Normals and Retardates

1965 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 649-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred A. Baumeister ◽  
William F. Hawkins ◽  
George Kellas
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Stimulus Intensity ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Time Task ◽  
Motor Set ◽  
Reaction Speed

The reaction times of retardates and normals were compared as a function of intensity of the reaction signal. Three intensity levels of a 1000-cycle tone were used: 5, 15, and 25 db above threshold. Each S was presented all tones in a completely counterbalanced order. The results revealed that both intelligence groups reacted faster with each increase in intensity of the signal. Since no significant interactions emerged, it cannot be concluded that the groups benefited differentially from increases in intensity of reaction signal. It is suggested that retardates may have a sensory set whereas normals have a motor set in the reaction time task.

Effects of Uncertainties of Time and Occurrence on Reaction Time of Mentally Handicapped Students

1981 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R. Surburg
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Mentally Handicapped ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Time Task

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of uncertainties of time and occurrence on reaction time of mildly handicapped students. 33 students were randomly assigned to the following treatment groups: no catch-trials, 10% catch-trials, and 20% catch-trials. Randomly varied foreperiods of 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 sec. were used in a reaction time task. The role of catch-trials varied over four days of testing. Reaction times following 3.0- and 4.5-sec. were significantly faster than measurements following a 1.5-sec. foreperiod.

Monaural Ear Differences for Same-Different Reaction Times to Speech with Prior Knowledge of Ear Stimulated

1975 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 829-830 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Morais
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Voluntary Attention ◽  
Time Task ◽  
Monaural Stimulation ◽  
Ear Advantage ◽  
Right Ear Advantage ◽  
Lateral Bias

Morais and Darwin's (1974) finding of a right-ear advantage for speech on a “same-different” reaction-time task under monaural stimulation was replicated with 8 Ss who knew before each block of trials which ear would be stimulated. The effect cannot be accounted for in terms of a lateral bias in voluntary attention.

Covert orienting of attention in macaques. III. Contributions of the superior colliculus

1995 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 713-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Robinson ◽  
C. Kertzman
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Receptive Field ◽  
Superior Colliculus ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Visual Responses ◽  
Time Task ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Visual Receptive Field ◽  
The Difference

1. The present experiments were conducted to study physiological mechanisms in the superior colliculus and their relation to visual spatial attention. We used a cued reaction time task studied in detail previously (Bowman et al. 1993; Posner 1980). Monkeys learned to fixate a spot of light and release a bar when a target light appeared. Cues on the same side as the target (valid cue) were associated with faster reaction times than those on the opposite side (invalid cue). The difference in reaction times is hypothesized to be a measure of attention. 2. A total of 79 neurons within the superficial layers of the superior colliculi of two monkeys were studied. When the cues and targets were positioned so that both were within the visual receptive field, the cues excited the cells, and this produced a refractoriness to the targets for the following 400 ms. Both the ON and OFF responses to the cue were constant under all conditions. 3. These neurons were also tested with the cue just outside of the visual receptive field. This was done to avoid refractory effects from the cue; there was no significant modulation of the response to the target under these conditions. The visual responses of neurons in the intermediate layers of the superior colliculus also responded equivalently under these conditions. 4. When the activity of cells within the foveal representation was compared during the performance of three tasks, there was differential activity. The appearance of the fixation point during the performance of the cued reaction time task led to a strong, transient discharge.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Twisting the Night Away: The Effects of All Night Disco Dancing on Reaction Time

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Tilley ◽  
Philip Bohle
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Simple Reaction Time ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Simple Reaction Time Task ◽  
Simple Reaction ◽  
Continuous Exercise ◽  
Time Task

8 subjects performed an unprepared simple reaction time task for 20 min. every 2 hr. while taking part in an all night disco dancing marathon (continuous exercise) and during a control (no exercise) night. Mean reaction times were significantly faster and less variable during the dance marathon. It was suggested that the effects of continuous exercise in the form of disco dancing may be to reduce drowsiness which in turn assists performance.

The Influence of Response—Effect Compatibility in a Serial Reaction Time Task

2003 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Stöcker ◽  
Albrecht Sebald ◽  
Joachim Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Serial Learning ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Stimulus Presentation ◽  
Serial Reaction Time Task ◽  
Serial Reaction Time ◽  
Motor Sequence ◽  
Response Effect ◽  
Time Task ◽  
Serial Reaction

Participants performed a serial reaction time task, responding to either asterisks presented at varying screen locations or centrally presented letters. Stimulus presentation followed a fixed second-order conditional sequence. Each keypress in the experimental groups produced a contingent, key-specific tone effect. The critical variation concerned the mapping of tones to keys. In Experiment 1, keypresses in one control condition produced noncontingent tone effects, while in another control condition there were no tone effects. In Experiment 2, three different key—tone mappings were compared to a control condition without tone effects. The results show that tone effects improve serial learning when they are mapped to the response keys contingently and in a highly compatible manner. The results are discussed with reference to an ideomotor mechanism of motor sequence acquisition.

A Choice-Reaction Time Task Utilizing Congruent and Incongruent Colour/Word Stimuli: Another Reaction to Stroop

1990 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew S. Head ◽  
D. S. Tunstall Pedoe
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Choice Reaction Time ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Choice Reaction Time Task ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Time Task ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Colour Word

A choice reaction time task was devised, using incongruent colour/word (Stroop-type) and congruent colour/word stimuli. A significant difference was found between reaction times to the two stimulus types with the Stroop-type stimuli eliciting longer reaction times. It is argued that traditional hypotheses about channel limitation can not explain this finding, the suggestion that the delay may lie in the decision-making process is put forward.

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