Associative processes and strategies in disjunctive reaction time

Abstract

Scaling analysis based on variable criterion theory has been applied to the c-reaction form of disjunctive RT. In addition to previously identified sensory growth functions, two associative processes have been identified and functions of time describing their growth have been obtained. Associative strength to the positive stimulus begins at about 200 msec, or after, and grows with initial positive and later negative acceleration. Associative inhibition to the negative stimulus begins earlier, shortly after the sensory detection functions, and grows rapidly with negative acceleration. Subjects may adopt strategies which emphasize the use of either of these associative processes. With the pure inhibitory strategy, they respond to the positive stimulus entirely on the basis of sensory detection, but associatively inhibit response to the negative stimulus. With either strategy, the speed-accuracy tradeoff was determined by the level of criterion adjustment.To describe the temporal growth in the strength of the sensory and associative information leading to response evocation is one of the goals of variable criterion theory. This type of analytic approach is made possible by the scaling properties of the model based upon the normality of criterion distributions. The logic involved and the methods by which such functions may be derived from cumulative RT distributions have been described by Grice (1972b) and Grice, Hunt, Kushner, and Morrow (1974). Considerable progress has been made in the description of the growth of the sensory component. These functions are obtained from simple RT experiments in which the associative factor may be assumed to be absent. The basic model here is E = V -T, where V is sensory strength, T is the mean of the criterion distribution, and E is excitatory strength measured from T. V grows in strength following stimulus onset according to a negatively accelerated function. The rate of growth is a function of stimulus intensity. The probability of response at any time is given by <I> (E,a), where <I> is the normal function and a is the standard deviation of the criterion distribution. The study by Grice et a1. (1974) included three simple RT conditions with differing catch trial conditions designed to affect the criterion level. The auditory signal was also presented at three intensities in an irregular order. For each subject a family of three negatively accelerated functions was derived indicating the growth of V with respect to time for each intensity. Estimates of T and a were also obtained which described the relations between conditions and between experimental sessions. This family of three functions, together with the cri· terion parameters, provided quite a satisfactory description of the data.The situation with respect to discovery of the growth functions for associative information in RT research is less advanced. The model which has been successfully applied in eyelid conditioning (Grice, 1972a) is E = H + V -T, where H is the associative factor; and it is the intent to apply th...

Variable criterion analysis of individual differences and stimulus similarity in choice reaction time

“…In the case of the 1,300-Hz data, this was quite simple and straightforward. This was because the DRT data represented a pure case of the inhibitory strategy originally described by Grice et al (1976). They found systematic differences between subjects which were interpreted as differences in the strategy with which a subject performed the DRT task.…”

“…The presence of inhibition, as in the earlier DRT theory (Grice et al, 1976), was inferred from the early divergence of the correct and error E functions at a time when the correct response was dependent entirely upon V. We reasoned that if correct responding was entirely dependent upon detection information, the depression in error rate must be based upon an ability to inhibit errors. I began very early and its growth was described by an inflected Gompertz function.…”

“…In SRT, Grice et al (1974) found the functions for V for three stimulus intensities to be invariant across nine experimental sessions. In DRT, Grice et al (1976) investigate, by multiple regression analysis, the relations among these variables and also their relations with other empirical variables. To the extent that such analysis provides interesting or provocative results, the usefulness of the theory is increased.…”

“…One of these features is that the amount of criterion variability may be more important in determining error rate than the mean level of the criterion. Also included are comments on a critique by Link (1979) and a discussion of the relation between this approach and more formal deductive models.Early applications of variable criterion analysis led to the development of a theory of simple reaction time (SRT) (Grice, Hunt, Kushner, & Morrow, 1974) and disjunctive reaction time (DRT) of the c-reaction type (Grice, Hunt, Kushner, & Nullmeyer, 1976). More recently, we have presented an empirically derived theory of choice reaction time (CRT) (Grice, Nullmeyer, & Spiker, 1977).…”

“…Early applications of variable criterion analysis led to the development of a theory of simple reaction time (SRT) (Grice, Hunt, Kushner, & Morrow, 1974) and disjunctive reaction time (DRT) of the c-reaction type (Grice, Hunt, Kushner, & Nullmeyer, 1976). More recently, we have presented an empirically derived theory of choice reaction time (CRT) (Grice, Nullmeyer, & Spiker, 1977).…”