Psychology of Reaction and Response Time

Reaction Time and Response Time

• Reaction time is the time between a stimulus and the start of a movement.
• Response time is the time it takes to process information and then make a response.
• Factors affecting reaction time include anticipation, experience, age, and fatigue.

Simple Reaction Time vs Choice Reaction Time

• Simple reaction time involves a stimulus and a predetermined response, with no decision making.
• Choice reaction time involves decision making or processing.
• Hick's Law states that the time to make a decision increases as the number of choices increases.

Single Channel Hypothesis

• The Single Channel Hypothesis proposes that only one stimulus can be processed at a time, resulting in a single response. This means information is processed sequentially.

Psychological Refractory Period

• The Psychological Refractory Period is the delay in responding to a second stimulus due to the first stimulus still being processed.

Anticipation

• Skilled performers can anticipate events and process information before they happen, which can save time.
• Spatial anticipation involves setting a movement pattern in advance.
• Temporal anticipation involves predicting when an event will happen.
• Incorrect anticipation can lengthen reaction time due to the Psychological Refractory Period.

Information Processing

• Input refers to information received from the environment.
• Decision making involves recognizing, perceiving, and using memory to select a response.
• Output is the response the performer makes.
• Feedback is the result of the response, which becomes part of the input for future decision making.

Perception (Stimulus Identification)

• Performers must interpret relevant information from the environment.
• The DCR system consists of:
  • Detection: Being aware of something notable.
  • Comparison: Comparing the current situation with past experiences.
  • Recognition: Realizing that a response is needed.

Selective Attention

• Selective attention involves filtering relevant information from a stream of sensory input.
• This information is processed in short-term memory (STM), allowing for conscious analysis.
• Through practice, some tasks become automatic, freeing up attentional capacity.

Response Selection and Programming

• Response selection involves choosing the appropriate response after relevant information is identified.
• Response programming involves selecting the motor program needed to execute the response.

Whiting's Model

• Input data from display: Information from the environment.
• Receptor systems: Sensory organs that receive information.
• Perceptual mechanisms: Parts of the brain that perceive the surroundings.
• Translatory mechanisms: Parts of the brain that process information and make decisions.
• Effector mechanisms: Parts of the brain that send messages to the body.
• Muscular system: Executes the movement.
• Output: The resulting movement.
• Feedback: Information about the movement, used to adjust future performance.

Welfords' Model

• Display: External environment.
• Perceptual mechanism: Perceives the surroundings.
• Decision mechanism: Makes decisions.
• Effector mechanism: Sends messages to limbs.
• Intrinsic feedback: Feedback from the body's proprioceptors.
• Extrinsic feedback: External feedback from the result of an action.

Short-Term Sensory Storage (STSS), Short-Term Memory (STM), and Long-Term Memory (LTM)

• STSS: Receives information for a brief period before transferring to STM.
• STM: Holds information for about 20-30 seconds. Capacity is limited to 4-9 items, improved by chunking.
• LTM: Holds information for long periods. Capacity is unlimited but requires a retrieval code.

Schema Theory

• Explains how performers can execute skills with little conscious control.
  • Recall schema: Contains information needed to initiate movements.

Explore the concepts of reaction time and response time, and understand the differences between simple and choice reaction times. This quiz covers factors influencing reaction times, Hick's Law, the Single Channel Hypothesis, and the Psychological Refractory Period. Test your knowledge on these important psychological processes.