We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Go-stimuli probability influences response bias in the sustained attention to response task: a signal detection theory perspective.
- Authors
Bedi, Aman; Russell, Paul N.; Helton, William S.
- Abstract
The sustained attention to response task (SART) is a popular measure in the psychology and neuroscience of attention. The underlying psychological cause for errors, in particular errors of commission, in the SART is actively disputed. Some researchers have suggested task-disengagement due to mind-wandering or mindlessness, and others have proposed strategic choices. In this study we explored an alternative perspective based on Signal Detection Theory, in which the high rate of commission errors in the SART reflects simply a shift in response bias (criterion) due to the high prevalence of Go-stimuli. We randomly assigned 406 participants to one of ten Go-stimuli prevalence rates (50%, 64%, 74%, 78%, 82%, 86%, 90%, 94%, 98% and 100%). As Go-stimuli prevalence increased reaction times to both Go and No–Go stimuli decreased, omission errors decreased and commission errors increased. These all were predicted from a hypothesized bias shift, but the findings were not compatible with some alternative theories of SART performance. These findings may have implications for similar tasks.
- Subjects
SIGNAL detection; ATTENTIONAL bias; STIMULUS &; response (Psychology); MIND-wandering; PROBABILITY theory
- Publication
Psychological Research, 2023, Vol 87, Issue 2, p509
- ISSN
0340-0727
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00426-022-01679-7