Wait is not the signal
The response pad first says Wait. Leave it alone. When it changes to Now and the counter appears, press the pad once.
The waiting interval varies from trial to trial. The task is to respond to the change you see, not to estimate how many seconds have passed.
An early press changes the trial
Suppose you press while Wait is still showing. That is a false start, even if Now appears shortly afterwards.
A later fast response does not undo that false start. The trial is excluded from the response-time summary. Let the visible signal decide when you press.
The wait feels long
Several seconds have passed, but the pad has not changed. Decide from what is on the screen, not from how long you expected to wait.
Try it
The pad still says Wait. What should you do?
- Wait for Now
- Press because enough time has passed
Show the answer
Wait for Now
Yes. Wait for the pad to say Now and the counter to appear, then press once. Elapsed waiting time is not a signal.
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Practice Reaction time