Does immediate arousal enhance response force in simple reaction time?
Three experiments assessed the hypothesis that immediate arousal enhances response force in speeded reaction-time tasks. Immediate arousal was manipulated via the physical characteristics of a warning signal that closely preceded the imperative response signal. The first experiment revealed that responses were more forceful and faster for a loud than for a soft warning signal. The second experiment manipulated the duration of an auditory warning signal; more forceful but slower responses were obtained for longer durations of the warning signal. The third experiment employed a visual warning signal, and its intensity was either rather weak or moderately bright; more forceful responses and slightly faster responses were observed for the brighter warning signal. Although the results of Experiment 1 and 2 may agree with an arousal account, the findings of Experiment 3 argue against such an account. A stimulus-response compatibility hypothesis is suggested as one possible alternative account.
Ulrich
R
R
General Psychology I, University of Wuppertal, Germany. ulrich@wrcsl.urz.uni-wuppertal.de
Mattes
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D001288:Attention; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time; D013216:Reflex, Startle