AGE AND CHOICE BETWEEN RESPONSES IN A SELF-PACED REPETITIVE TASK

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Abstract
When young subjects select between 2 responses of similar amplitudes, and in the same direction, they can overlap identification of 1 of 2 signals with the initial movement of a reach appropriate to either. They thus respond more quickly when selecting between responses of similar amplitudes than when selecting between responses of very different amplitudes. Older subjects are less able to overlap movement and choice time and so benefit less from a choice between similar as against dissimilar responses. Young subjects respond faster when cycles of responses during the task are alternated than when they are repeated. This tendency appears to be related to guessing strategies earlier described as the "negative recency effect" or "gambler''s fallacy". The latencies of young subjects'' responses appear to be directly dependent on the latencies of immediately preceding responses rather than on the response rate for the sequence as a whole. Latencies of old subjects'' responses are affected by both factors. Implications for the design of consoles are discussed.