LAWS OF THE SIMPLE VISUAL REACTION TIME

Fourteen studies from the literature on the reaction time (RT) to a flash of light provided sufficient methodological detail and data to allow for a quantitative analysis of the effects of the following selected variables: luminance, duration, size of stimulus, response to onset versus termination of the signal, and monocular versus binocular viewing. Mathematical relationships were developed which can be used to predict binocular rts over a wide range of luminance, signal duration, and signal size. It was also shown that the product of rt and luminance may be used to represent a response criterion in the sense implied by the theory of signal detection as developed in recent latency models. The results were interpreted as suggesting two general energy processing activities--criterion development and an impulse "countdown"--going on in parallel which are in series with a sensory delay.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00332909
• Authors:
  • Teichner, W D
  • Krebs, M J
• Publication Date: 1972-7

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 344-358
• Serial:
  • Psychological Review
  • Volume: 79
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: American Psychological Association
  • ISSN: 0033-2909

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Human factors
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00050896
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 15 1976 12:00AM