Object Processing in Simple Detection

What is it about?

Even during simple reaction time tests, response times were impacted by the distinct properties of the stimuli (i.e. letters verses numbers). These differences are short lived, lasting approximately 100ms. Furthermore, when attention is drawn to the spatial location in which the stimulus would eventually appear the differences disappeared.

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Why is it important?

Researchers often evaluate reaction times in detection paradigms as being a function of when or where the stimulus appears, not what the stimulus is. Our results suggest that we also process object information, even when we are not trying to. Researchers should consider the possibility that simple "detection" may not be so simple.