L11 Reaction Time I – Auditory Stimulus

The lesson demonstrates the effect of learning and physiological processes on reaction times to an auditory stimulus.

Students hear two presentation schedules of clicks through a set of headphones. The Subject presses a pushbutton hand switch as quickly as possible after hearing the click.

Students can then perform a statistical analysis of the results including: group mean, variance and standard deviation.

Experimental Objectives

Tasks Performed by the Student

BSL Lessons are designed to allow at least four students to record and save data in a normal lab period (60-90 minutes). Typically, labs work most efficiently with three or more students working together at each BSL station.

• React to a schedule of fixed interval clicks.
• React to a schedule of random clicks.

Add active learning segments designed by students or instructor to expand this lesson.

Lesson Hardware

This lesson requires a Biopac Student Lab (BSL) System and the following hardware. If your BSL System does not include all hardware items, expand your system by selecting required items below. For more details, review the Lesson: L# BSL Lessons - see the Lab Manual or launch BSL; A# and H# BSL PRO Lessons, click the PDF link above to review full setup, recording, and analysis procedures.