Tracking and frequency of target intermittence.

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Abstract
Measures of proficiency of tracking on the Pedestal Sight Manipulation Test were obtained at frequencies of intermittent target presentation of .4, .7, 1.0, 2.1, 4.1, 6.0, 8.2 and 16.1 cps. Since fusion frequency was at approximately 12 cps., the target at 16.1 cps. was perceived as steady. The 16 Ss of the experiment, all male undergraduate college students, received one trial of 8 attacks for each frequency in each of four experimental sessions. Separate analyses of variance were completed for the AE and AER measures. A significant differential effect for frequency of intermittent target presentation was obtained. The relation is that of a bowed curve concave downward. As frequency of target intermittence increases, there is an initial rapid rise in tracking proficiency to 1.0 cps., a more gradual increase to a maximum at 8.2 cps., and a decline at 16.1 cps. A significant practice effect was obtained only for the AE measures. Since a light-dark ratio of 50/50 could not be obtained at .4, .7, and 16.1 cps., and since target brightness declined consistently as frequency increased, the obtained curves cannot be said to be a simple function of frequency of intermittent presentation of the target. The gains in tracking proficiency between 1.0 and 8.2 cps., however, are not differentially affected by the constant light-dark ratio of 50/50, and the only effect of target brightness could be one of decreasing the magnitude of the increments. There is, therefore, evidence for a relation of tracking and frequency of target presentation for which neither light-dark ratio nor brightness may be responsible. The obtained curves, however, will require confirmation under conditions that permit adequate control of light-dark ratio and target brightness as parameters.
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