A Study of the “Psychological Refractory Phase” in Relation to Ageing

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Abstract
An experiment was conducted into the effects of age on the speed of responses to signals falling within the so-called "psychological refractory phase," i. e. that period during which reaction times to a signal closely following the initiation of a previous response are lengthened. Thirty-four male subjects, ranging from 20 to 80 years of age, were required to deal simultaneously with two streams of signals, one a regular input, and the other with high temporal uncertainty. From the results a tentative distinction has been drawn between "absolute" and "relative" parts of the phase. The data also suggest that amplification of a routine activity serves, in the case of older adults, to improve the selective responsiveness of the central mechanisms to high-information signals. An interpretation is proposed in terms of vigilance and arousal.

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