Abstract
Choice RT of 10 college students was compared under two conditions. One condition was a single-choice condition in which, 1 sec after a warning signal, one of a pair of stimulus lights was flashed and S was required to move a right-hand lever in the appropriate direction. In the double-choice condition, a second stimulus (high or low tone) followed the first stimulus by 1/2 sec, and S was, in addition, required to respond to it by moving a left-hand lever in the appropriate direction. Average RT to the light in the single-choice condition was significantly shorter (p <. 01) than the RT to the same stimulus in the double condition. These data provide additional evidence that present behavior is affected by S’s expectation of the immediate future.
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This experiment was carried out as a junior independent study project; the second author served as advisor.
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Donaldson, C., Hall, A.E. Choice reaction time as a function of intersensory anticipation. Psychon Sci 18, 123–124 (1970). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03335729
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03335729