Abstract
In an auditory reaction time task, changes in pupillary dilation were monitored during conditions of high and low background illumination. The latter were found to determine pupillary baseline levels, while the amplitude of the dilation peak at response stayed at a constant value. Unfulfilled expectancy that a response signal would occur was found to induce a smaller expectancy peak, despite the absence of an associated motor response. It was confirmed that temporal uncertainty relating to the length of the warning foreperiod could partly determine the Ss’ RT performance.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
BRADSHAW, J. L. Pupil size as a measure of arousal during information processing. Nature, 1967, 216, 515–516.
BRADSHAW, J. L. Load and pupillary changes in continuous processing tasks. British Journal of Psychology, 1968, 59, 265–271.
BRADSHAW, J. L. Pupillary changes and reaction time with varied stimulus uncertainty. Psychonomic Science, in press.
ELLIOTT, R. Physiological activity and performance. Psychological Monographs: General & Applied, 1964, 78, (10, Whole No. 587).
FERNANDEZ-GUARDIOLA, A., AYALA, E., & KORNHAUSER, S. EEG, heart rate and RT in humans: Variable vs fixed interval repetitive stimuli. Physiology & Behavior, 1968, 3, 231–240.
HESS, E. Attitude and pupil size. Scientific American, 1965, 212, 46–54.
KAHNEMAN, D., & BEATTY, J. Pupil diameter and load on memory. Science, 1966, 154, 153–1585.
LACEY, J. I. The evaluation of autonomic responses: Toward a general solution. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1956, 67, 123–163.
LOEWENFELD, I. Pupillary movements associated with light and near vision: An experimental review of the literature. In M. A. Whitcomb (Ed.), Recent developments in vision research. Washington: National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council Publication No. 1272, 1966.
NUNNALLY, J. C., KNOTT, P. D., DUCHNOWSKI, A., & PARKER, R. Pupillary response as a general measure of activation. Perception & Psychophysics, 1967, 2, 149–155.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bradshaw, J.L. Background light intensity and the pupillary response in a reaction time task. Psychon Sci 14, 271–272 (1969). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329118
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329118