considerations for preparing a motor response
-sensory information, reaction time, attention, arousal
reaction time
-time from initiation of stimuli to movement
movement time
- beginning of movement to end of movement
- time from initiation of movement until it has been completed
response time
-reaction time and movement time
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stimulus response alternatives
-simple reaction time, choice reaction time, hick’s law
simple reaction time
-one stimuli
choice reaction time
-multiple stimuli
Hick’s law
- how we can predict or anticipate a stimulus to improve reaction time
- as number of choices increases, reaction time increases
psychological refractory period
-processing a response to first stimulus always delays the ability to process a response to the second stimulus
types of attention
-includes capacity, selectivity, focus
capacity
-limit to attention
-selective attention
- we attend to relevant stimuli and block out irrelevant stimuli
- cocktail party affect
focus
-can be narrow, broad, external, internal
theories of attentional capacities
- single channel filter theories
- multiple resource theories
- central resource capacity
single channel filter theories
-one task at a time in serial order with simpler tasks completed first
multiple resource theories
- all tasks have a specific capacity and when capacity for one task is exceeded, it compromises the other tasks
- Attention mechanisms that each have limited capacity are associated with which theory of attention?
central resource theory
- person can evaluate tasks and determine if they can be done at the same time
- is flexible depending on task, person, and situation
focuses of attention
- direction
- width
types of direction (focus of attention)
- internal (within)
- external (environment)
types of width (focus of attention)
- narrow
- broad
arousal vs. anxiety
- arousal : general physiological and psychological activation, varying from deep sleep to intense excitement
- anxiety: nervousness, worry, and apprehension associated with activation or arousal
state anxiety vs trait anxiety
- state anxiety: one time in specific situation
- trait anxiety : part of personality
inverted U hypothesis
-performance tends to increase as arousal increases but only to a certain point ; once arousal surpasses the individuals optimal arousal level, performance tends to drop off
exteroception
- provides information about the external environment related to the body
- vision and audition
