ACTIVATION INTERFERENCE ASSOCIATION FOR FINGER RESPONSES IN CHOICE-REACTION TIME TASKS

The two experiments conducted basically used equi-probable, choice reaction time (RT) tasks with two executable responses. Overall, Response Probability (0.5, 0.9), Hand Condition (within, between) and Trial-Type (single-response, dual-response) served as main factors. The results obtained supported Komblum's (1965) claim that response interference consumes a measurable portion of the RT interval on single-response trials, and, moreover, pointed to the existence of a direct association between activation and interference degrees. Two important consequences attendant to the existence of an activation-interference relationship were discussed; namely, that the influence of probability upon RT should not be viewed solely in 'non-interactive' terms (e.g., Information Theory) and that since both activation and interference levels increase concurrently, one must determine which of these two, opposing forces dominates the other ('Dominance Issue') to control ordinal changes in RT(single-response). The answer determines how RT(single-response) should be interpreted.