Biomaterial Database

Ultradian rhythms in selective auditory attention performance. 1994

C Escera, and C Grau

Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Spain.

In order to study the existence of ultradian rhythms in human performance, reaction times and omissions of responses to signal stimuli were registered from 17 subjects performing a selective auditory attention task, at 15-minute intervals from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The task consisted of selectively focusing attention, first to the left and then to the right ear, and pressing a button every time a signal stimulus was detected. Rhythmometric analysis showed the existence of significant (p < .05) ultradian rhythms both in the temporal course of the reaction time and in the number of omissions of responses to signal stimuli. Results are discussed in terms of the level of difficulty of the task and the processing resources involved.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D011930	Reaction Time	The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed.	Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000161	Acoustic Stimulation	Use of sound to elicit a response in the nervous system.	Auditory Stimulation,Stimulation, Acoustic,Stimulation, Auditory
D000204	Activity Cycles	Bouts of physical irritability or movement alternating with periods of quiescence. It includes biochemical activity and hormonal activity which may be cellular. These cycles are shorter than 24 hours and include sleep-wakefulness cycles and the periodic activation of the digestive system.	Activity Cycle,Cycle, Activity,Cycles, Activity
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001288	Attention	Focusing on certain aspects of current experience to the exclusion of others. It is the act of heeding or taking notice or concentrating.	Focus of Attention,Selective Attention,Social Attention,Attention Focus,Attention, Selective,Attention, Social,Selective Attentions
D001307	Auditory Perception	The process whereby auditory stimuli are selected, organized, and interpreted by the organism.	Auditory Processing,Perception, Auditory,Processing, Auditory