DELAY IN RESPONDING TO FIRST STIMULUS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL REFRACTORY PERIOD EXPERIMENT - COMPARISONS WITH DELAY PRODUCED BY A SECOND STIMULUS NOT REQUIRING A RESPONSE

Compared RT to the 1st of 2 successive signals for 2 groups of 16 undergraduates required to respond either to both signals (Group R1,2) or to only the 1st (Group R1). Comparisons were made with RT of a control group of 16 Ss presented with only a single signal per trial. All 3 groups were tested under conditions of stimulus-response uncertainty. RTs for both R groups were significantly longer than that of the control group, and RT for Group R1 significantly exceeded that of Group R1,2. Both R groups showed comparable decreases in RT as the interstimulus interval lengthened. Results were considered consistent with a response conflict view of double-stimulation effects; this view was extended to interpretation of RT delays occurring to the 2nd stimulus for Group R1,2 (to the psychological refractory period effect). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.