Decision Making

Question 1

three stages of information processing

Answer 1

Stimulus Identification
- -Involves detection and processing of sensory information including vision, audition, touch, proprioception, smell.
Response Selection
- - Selection of motor responses
given the goal of the task and
nature of the environment.
Program response
- - Preparing the motor system to
generate the desired
response.

Question 2

Reaction Time

Movement Time

Response Time

Answer 2

Reaction Time (RT): is the time difference
between stimulus presentation and the
initiation of a motor response.

Movement Time (MT): time elapsed from
end of reaction time to the completion of
movement.

Response Time: Time elapsed between
stimulus presentation and end of
movement (RT + MT).

Question 2

Simple Reaction Time
- what is spent most time in

Choice Reaction Time
- what is spent most time in

Answer 2

Time interval between the presentation of a known stimulus and the motor response.
Detect Starters pistol, do the KNOWN run, launch motor commands
Stimulus ID

Time interval between the presentation of one of several
possible stimuli and the beginning of one of several
potential motor responses.
Detect one of many options. Select Response. Response program
lots of time in each

Question 3

Hick’s Law

Answer 3

Hick discovered the relation between # of choices and
RT could be described by a simple log-linear equation
Hick’s Law: RT = a(log2(n)) + b
where:
n = # of S-R alternatives
a = slope: the slope (term a in equation) is the expected
increase in RT when the # of S-R alternatives is doubled
b = y-intercept: the y-intercept ( the term b in
equation) is the expected RT when no choice is required

Question 4

Stimulus Response Capability
S-R
hypothesis

movement compatibility

Answer 4

Spatially compatible with what is seen or observed. Burners on a stove, window openers on a car
left stimulus, left trigger. Incompatible, left stimulus, right trigger
—-people response slower to spatially incompatible trials

car wheel turns right, turn signals on a car, window controls

Question 5

Types of anticipation

Answer 5

Temporal, countdown on something, like race car lights, less time in Stimulus ID.

Spatial, trajectory of something, like a ball

Spatial-Temporal, know your route in football, about the time it’ll be thrown, and the trajectory of a ball