Response Selection and the Processing of Auditory Intensity

Abstract

Eight subjects were used in an experiment investigating the relationship between auditory intensity and choice reaction time (RT). The subject's task was to translate the pitch of a monaural tone into a left or right key-press response, The monaural tone was presented to either the left or the right ear in a random order. The random presentation and the instruction to obey the tonal command required either ipsilateral or contralateral reactions which place different demands on response selection. The RT/intensity functions indicate that the relation between auditory intensity and choice RT depends on the extent of the demands on response selection. As these demands increase RT becomes less reduced and even increases at high intensities (>80 dB). This finding was taken to extend the available evidence on the additional intensity effect of strong auditory stimulation which is usually described as the extra immediate arousal effect in the literature.

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