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Dissertation Information for Hongwei Guan

NAME:
- Hongwei Guan

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Health Sciences

SCHOOL:
- Indiana University (USA) (2005)

ADVISORS:
- David M. Koceja

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Paul Purdom
- Paul R. Surburg
- John B. Shea

MPACT Status: Incomplete - Not_Inspected

Title: Fractionated reaction time using the psychological refractory period paradigm

Abstract: Purpose . The purpose of this study was to identify possible neurological as well as cognitive factors in a PRP model by using the reaction time fractionation technique with electromyography, introduced by Weiss (1965). Findings from this study can also serve as a protocol and baseline reference for further study in the PRP paradigm where different forearm movements are selected, and can provide direction for examining both cognitive and neural factors in the PRP paradigm.

Methodology . Two experiments were administered for the study. A total of 40 (20 male and 20 female) right-hand dominant college-age students participated in the experiments. Fractionated reaction times were measured under both single and dual task conditions using simple and choice visual-manual reaction time tasks across four consecutive days. The dependent variables include total reaction time, premotor time (PMT) and motor time (MT). Different response tasks (simple and choice) were used for the first and second reaction time tasks using the PRP paradigm with stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs) of 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 milliseconds. Analysis of variance and planned comparisons (using Bonferroni adjustment) were used to test the effects for practice (learning), task difficulty, SOA, handedness, and gender, as well as all interaction effects.

Conclusions . Practice can reduce the PRP effect. The PRP effect is affected by task difficulty, and PMT and MT do not necessarily change in the same pattern. Hand movement combinations affect the PRP effect; a left hand followed by a right hand choice reaction time task has a greater PRP effect than vice versa. The same PRP effect was observed for both male and female participants although males demonstrated a faster single task choice reaction time than their female counterparts. Both PMT and MT contribute to the PRP effect. Evidence of MT PRP profiles observed in three dual task conditions supports the existence of a response initiation bottleneck. Neurological as well as cognitive factors determine the extent of delay of the second response in the PRP paradigm

MPACT Scores for Hongwei Guan

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2010-10-13 22:29:42

Advisors and Advisees Graph