Biomaterial Database

Square-root formula for choice reaction time. 1996

T O Kvålseth

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455-0111, USA.

The power law of choice reaction time, first proposed by Kvãlseth (1980), is further discussed. It is shown that the so called Hick-Hyman law is a special case of the power law. It is suggested that a particular square-root case provides a most concise and adequate formula for predicting reaction time when the number of equiprobable stimulus-response pairs ranges from 1 to 10. A potential theoretical explanation is briefly discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008433	Mathematics	The deductive study of shape, quantity, and dependence. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Mathematic
D011336	Probability	The study of chance processes or the relative frequency characterizing a chance process.	Probabilities
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
D011939	Mental Recall	The process whereby a representation of past experience is elicited.	Recall, Mental
D002755	Choice Behavior	The act of making a selection among two or more alternatives, usually after a period of deliberation.	Approach Behavior,Approach Behaviors,Behavior, Approach,Behavior, Choice,Behaviors, Approach,Behaviors, Choice,Choice Behaviors
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015233	Models, Statistical	Statistical formulations or analyses which, when applied to data and found to fit the data, are then used to verify the assumptions and parameters used in the analysis. Examples of statistical models are the linear model, binomial model, polynomial model, two-parameter model, etc.	Probabilistic Models,Statistical Models,Two-Parameter Models,Model, Statistical,Models, Binomial,Models, Polynomial,Statistical Model,Binomial Model,Binomial Models,Model, Binomial,Model, Polynomial,Model, Probabilistic,Model, Two-Parameter,Models, Probabilistic,Models, Two-Parameter,Polynomial Model,Polynomial Models,Probabilistic Model,Two Parameter Models,Two-Parameter Model