Citation

Peak H. J. Exp. Psychol. 1939; 25(6): 535-565.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1939, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0063056

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study deals with lid reflexes to paired tone stimuli and absolute judgments of these same tones. The four intensity values taken by the first stimulus (S 1) of the pair fell into geometrically increasing steps. The second stimulus (S 2) was of constant intensity. Two time intervals between stimuli were employed, 177 and 285 ms. With S 1 and S 2 equal, there is evidence of a positive time error in 3 out of 5 subjects at the 177 ms. interval, and 4 out of 5 at the 285 ms. interval. The error is greater at 177 ms. Although judgments of S 2 following all intensities of S 1 showed decrement, the amount varied. The judged intensities of the second stimulus of the pair (J 2) decreased as the intensity of the first stimulus increased. When the intensity of the first stimulus was greatest and equal to the second, the function tended to reverse, showing a decrease in decrement of J 2 although inhibition was still present. The amplitude of the lid reflex (R 2) showed a relationship to the first stimulus similar to that for J 2 except that the function was continuous with no reversal at the largest intensity. In both reactions the development of inhibition following weak intensities of S 1 tended to be delayed so that it continued to increase beyond 177 ms. and was greater at the longer time interval. At the largest intensities this never occurred, and the amount of inhibition was always smaller at the longer intervals. An attempt is made to organize the J 2 and R 2 data under generalizations which are supported by experimental observations of spinal reflexes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)