Auditory evoked brain responses: Intensity functions from bipolar human scalp recordings

Average evoked brain responses were computed from four simultaneous recordings during binaural tone stimulation at 10 intensity levels. Amplitudes and latencies were measured for the prominent components, and linear regression coefficients were computed. The results indicate that the sensitivity of the evoked response to stimulus intensity is dependent upon the selection of the appropriate measure. Linear amplitude functions were demonstrated. Additional research relating these responses to psychophysical measures is suggested.     

Successive luminance difference thresholds and brightness as a function of the interstimulus interval and durations of successive flashes

Monocular,successive luminance difference thresholds (ΔI) and brightness matches (PSE) were obtained by the method of constant stimuli for two flashes successively presented to the same retinal area. Variations in interstimulus interval first-flash duration,and second-flash duration were the independent variables investigated. ΔI decreased as a function of ISI,while PSE remained relatively uninfluenced. An intensity-duration reciprocity was observed with increases in either first- or second-flash duration. Equal increases in duration of both flashes led to a constant value of ΔI. A Broca-Sulzer effect was also noted. In another study, a 10-msec, variable-luminance Standard was followed after 500 msec by either a 10-msec or a 320-msec test flash that was compared to the Standard. The results indicated that the rate of change of brightness with changes in luminance of the Standard was faster for the 10-msec flash than for the 320-msec flash. The rate-of-change hypothesis would predict that the 10-msec flash should have the smaller ΔI. The results for two Ss indicated the opposite: AI was smaller for 320-msec than for 10-msec flashes. A modification of the hypothesis was suggested such that it may be the energy increment (Δlt) required for detection that is related to the rate at which brightness changes with energy.     

Reinforcement of visual attending in classrooms for deaf children

The efficacy of immediate tangible reinforcement in increasing appropriate visual attending for entire classes of deaf children was examined. The subjects were three classes (seven children each) in a residential school for the deaf. Boxes were installed on each child's desk, with lights that were flashed immediately contingent upon 10 sec of visual attending. Light flashes were backed up by M & M's, cereal bits, or tokens. In two of the classes, extinction sessions were also scheduled. For all classes, the reinforcement procedure increased visual attending by 50% or more, maintaining it at rates above 82%. Withdrawal of tangibles decreased attending back to baseline levels. The results support analysis of attending as operant behavior and demonstrate the applicability of reinforcement procedures in modifying these behaviors for young deaf children in a classroom setting.     

The effect of forced choice on color discrimination

Color discrimination ability was measured at four spectral regions usually named blue, green, yellow, and red. Two methods, temporal forced-choice and phenomenal report, were compared. Data suggest that for color discrimination, phenomenal report is a preferable technique.     

Two types of short-term visual storage

Seven-letter words were flashed repetitively at various durations above and below the recognition threshold for single flashes. One form of a short-term storage effect was studied by measuring the interstimulus interval between flashes at which S reported that the stimulus became phenomenally discontinuous in time. Storage times reached a maximum of about 300 msec in this task. A second form of storage effect was measured by decreasing the interstimulus interval until S could correctly recognize a repeated stimulus whose duration was below the single-flash recognition threshold; this effect extended to 900 msec in some cases. Each of these effects was reliably obtained for both rare and frequent words. Both forms of storage were increased by providing a dark rather than a lighted adapting field between presentations of the test stimulus. Implications for Information processing of brief displays are discussed.     

A Bayesian prediction of four-look recognition performance from one-look data

The hypothesis that a human O’s (S’s) performance in a visual recognition task can be modelled by Bayes’ theorem was investigated. Two Ss were run for 40 experimental sessions each. Their task was to specify the direction of the gap of tachistoscopically presented Landolt rings (Cs). There were four possible gap directions, and two experimental conditions. In one condition, S responded after each stimulus presentation. In the other, a fixed-observation condition, Ss responded after four consecutive presentations of a C. Exposure durations were such that performance under both conditions was greater than chance, but less than unity. Predictions of four-look performance from one-look data were made. Overall hit rates were predicted closely. The entire pattern of each S’s four-look data was also predicted reasonably well. Further tests of the model are currently under way.