The influence of the intensity of the stimulus on the length of the reaction time (summary)

The influence of the intensity of the stimulus on the length of the reaction time

Cattell, J. M. (1948). The influence of the intensity of the stimulus on the length of the reaction time, 1885. In W. Dennis (Ed), Readings in the history of psychology. (pp. 323–325). East Norwalk, CT, US: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

After the work of Wundt, Exner, and others, Cattell and Berger were carrying out further experiments to determine the relationship between intensity of a stimulus and reaction time in the Psychological Laboratory at the University of Leipzig. These experiments focused on electric shocks and light, and their effects on simple reaction time and reaction time complicated by other cerebral operations. "Reaction time" refers to the time between the presentation of a stimulus and the beginning of a muscular contraction.

Cattell and Berger experimented on themselves with eight different light intensities. In a second study, they investigated four different intensities of electric shocks on reaction time. Both studies concluded that as stimulus intensity increases, reaction time decreases.

In a third study, the researchers began to wonder whether the colour of the light made a difference. They found, however, that reaction time and light colour were not correlated. They did, however, find that when it was necessary to distinguish the colour of the light before reacting, reaction time increased. It was found, therefore, that the time it takes to perceive a colour becomes shorter as the light intensity increases, but the time it took to perceive a colour was not a function of the intensity of the stimulus.

Image

Access: 
Public

Image

Join WorldSupporter!
This content is used in:

Psychology: History and Application

Search a summary

Image

 

 

Contributions: posts

Help other WorldSupporters with additions, improvements and tips

Add new contribution

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

Image

Spotlight: topics

This content is also used in .....

Image

Check how to use summaries on WorldSupporter.org

Online access to all summaries, study notes en practice exams

How and why use WorldSupporter.org for your summaries and study assistance?

  • For free use of many of the summaries and study aids provided or collected by your fellow students.
  • For free use of many of the lecture and study group notes, exam questions and practice questions.
  • For use of all exclusive summaries and study assistance for those who are member with JoHo WorldSupporter with online access
  • For compiling your own materials and contributions with relevant study help
  • For sharing and finding relevant and interesting summaries, documents, notes, blogs, tips, videos, discussions, activities, recipes, side jobs and more.

Using and finding summaries, notes and practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter

There are several ways to navigate the large amount of summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter.

  1. Use the summaries home pages for your study or field of study
  2. Use the check and search pages for summaries and study aids by field of study, subject or faculty
  3. Use and follow your (study) organization
    • by using your own student organization as a starting point, and continuing to follow it, easily discover which study materials are relevant to you
    • this option is only available through partner organizations
  4. Check or follow authors or other WorldSupporters
  5. Use the menu above each page to go to the main theme pages for summaries
    • Theme pages can be found for international studies as well as Dutch studies

Do you want to share your summaries with JoHo WorldSupporter and its visitors?

Quicklinks to fields of study for summaries and study assistance

Main summaries home pages:

Main study fields:

Main study fields NL:

Follow the author: Vintage Supporter
Work for WorldSupporter

Image

JoHo can really use your help!  Check out the various student jobs here that match your studies, improve your competencies, strengthen your CV and contribute to a more tolerant world

Working for JoHo as a student in Leyden

Parttime werken voor JoHo

Statistics
1333