Lec 3 - Processimg Imformation And Decisions Pt.2 Flashcards
How does the number of response alternatives affect reaction time?
Reaction time increases as the number of response alternatives increases due to the additional processing required for response selection (Hick’s Law).
What are stimulus-response compatibility and population stereotypes?
Stimulus-response compatibility: The natural alignment between a stimulus and its response, improving reaction time.
Population stereotypes: Learned, habitual response mappings, like associating “red” with “stop.”
What is anticipation, and what are its types?
Anticipation is predicting what will happen and when, allowing for faster reactions.
Spatial anticipation: Predicting the location of a stimulus.
Temporal anticipation: Predicting the timing of a stimulus.
What are the benefits and risks of anticipation?
Benefits: Faster reaction times by pre-planning responses.
Risks: Incorrect predictions can lead to errors and delays.
What is the short-term sensory store (STSS), and what is its role?
STSS is a brief memory store (<1 second) holding large amounts of sensory information, acting as a temporary buffer for initial processing.
How does short-term memory (STM) differ from long-term memory (LTM)?
STM: Limited capacity, holds information for a few minutes, requires attention and rehearsal.
LTM: Unlimited capacity, stores information for a lifetime, includes well-learned skills and knowledge.
What is Hick’s Law, and how is it calculated?
Hick’s Law states RT increases logarithmically with the number of stimulus-response pairs. Equation: RT = a + b × Log2(N) where N is the number of choices.
What is the purpose of Donders’ subtraction method?
To isolate and measure the time taken for specific stages of information processing, like response selection.
How does practice influence reaction time in choice reaction tasks?
Practice reduces the cognitive load, enabling faster response selection and execution, even with increased response alternatives.
What is the role of attention in processing information during reaction tasks?
Attention filters relevant stimuli, focusing cognitive resources on essential information while ignoring distractions, improving efficiency and accuracy.
