title: Changes in auditory-vocal reaction times within and across experimental sessions: preliminary observations.
abstract: Changes in auditory-vocal reaction times (AVRTs) within and across experimental sessions were studied in 13 healthy university students, all females. Subjects were required to listen to a series of synthesized vowels and utter each of the vowels as soon as they heard it. The vowels were /i/, /u/, /a/, /o/, and /ae/, each presented 14 times and all presented in random order and at irregular intervals (2.5-4.5 sec). The stimuli and the instructions were prerecorded and presented to the subjects binaurally at a comfortable intensity level via headphones in an IAC booth. Each subject performed the experimental task twice, a week apart. The stimuli and the vocal responses were tape recorded and later digitized and computer analyzed. Serial analysis of successive AVRTs revealed significant intra- and intersession decreases in AVRTs in the majority of the subjects. Increases in AVRTs were also seen, but much less frequently. The implications of these findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sapir
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ragin
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dod
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010699:Phonation; D010700:Phonetics; D011930:Reaction Time; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis