Abstract
Three young men were given the step-tracking task of pushing a slider to either a near or a far target lamp as soon as one came on. Occasionally, the alternative lamp replaced the initial one after it had been on for 50 msec, calling for either curtailment or extension of the initial command. This net stimulus information led to the modifying of response on a majority of trials. Its first discernible effect occurred without any PR (psychological refractoriness) delay. In some cases, the response appeared to be influenced from its onset by the second signal. More often, modification appeared later. Typically, the response was inadequate relative to the new command, or distorted. Effects of the initial command evidently persisted, either in neural organization or in actual execution. Step-tracking responses are thus vulnerable, yet resistant to modification. It is reasonable that in continuous tracking the operator would avoid making effortful, inadequate modifications. Hence, his performance could be described asvoluntarily intermittent. The usual PR delay found on dual keypressing tasks cannot be attributed to limitations in capacity for identifying signals or even in “selecting” a response. It is suggested that the organizational process required for the first response interferes with another such process.
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This research was supported by Grant MH-10447 from the National Institute of Mental Health. Additional funds for data analysis were provided by a faculty research grant from the University of California. Generous contributions m the use of facilities and of expert assistance were provided by the Health Sciences Computing Facility and the Brain Research Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, and by the Computer Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The writer is especially grateful to Thomas C. Way for has assistance in every phase of the project. Judith Bruckner developed the critical computer programs. Many students gave valuable help at one time or another. Chief among them were: Steven Slater, Linda McDivitt, Camille Gilbert, and Nancy Dierdorff.
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Gottsdanker, R. Psychological refractoriness and the organization of step-tracking responses. Perception & Psychophysics 14, 60–70 (1973). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03198618
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03198618