Abstract
This research permits a comparison of the effects of background-noise intensity (105 dB, 70 dB, and no noise) and mode of presentation (unpredictable, predictable, and self-administered) on simple reaction time (RT) to auditory and visual test signals. Each of 112 subjects participated in a 1-h session comprised of 146 RT trials. The background noise was presented during the intertrial interval, and the average exposure duration was 2 sec/trial. It was found that at 105-dB noise levels, intensity was the crucial variable, whereas at 70-dB levels, the predictability of the background noise was of primary importance. It was concluded that background noise debilitates RT performance when the noise is too loud, or, if the noise is moderately intense, because it is temporally unpredictable.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Glass, D. C., & Singer, J. E. Behavioral aftereffects of unpredictable and uncontrollable aversive events. American Scientist, 1972, 60, 457–465.
Kohfeld, D. L. Stimulus intensity and adaptation level as determinants of simple reaction time. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1968, 76, 468–473.
Kohfeld, D. L. Effects of the intensity of auditory and visual ready signals on simple reaction time. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1969, 82, 88–95. (a)
Kohfeld, D. L. Effects of ready-signal intensity and intensity of the preceding response signal on simple reaction time. American Journal of Psychology, 1969, 82, 104–110. (b)
Kohfeld, D. L. Simple reaction time as a function of stimulus intensity in decibels of light and sound. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1971, 88, 251–257.
Murray, H. G., & Kohfeld, D. L. Role of adaptation level in stimulus intensity dynamism. Psychonomic Science, 1965, 3, 439–440.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by Research Grant 020457 from the Office of Research and Projects, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, to D. L. Kohfeld, and is based on a Master’s thesis submitted to Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, by D. W. Goedecke. We are indebted to Robert Ruhl for the instrumentation involved in the experiment.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kohfeld, D.L., Goedecke, D.W. Intensity and predictability of background noise as determinants of simple reaction time. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 12, 129–132 (1978). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329648
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329648