Intersensory Comparisons of Reaction Time Using an Electro-Pulse Tactile Stimulus

Abstract

The literature on cutaneous communication suggests that a square wave electro-pulse may be a more effective tactile stimulus for cross modality comparisons of reaction times than more traditional stimuli. It was hypothesized that the electro-pulse would give faster reaction times than either light or sound, when presented independently or in simultaneous combinations with the other stimuli. Mean reaction times of 10 male subjects, analysis of variance and mean separation test all indicated that the electro-pulse resulted in faster reaction times and less variability of responses than the other stimuli in both single and combined presentations. The hypotheses were supported and an ordering of reaction times was statistically established as following from the hypotheses. Pooling of stimuli effectiveness was offered as an explanation for the rapid reaction times of combined stimuli.