Psychomotor performance as a function of intertrial rest interval.

Abstract

Performance on a paced psychomotor task was evaluated as a function of intertrial interval The Rotary Pursuit Test was used and 150 trials were given. Trial length was constant at 30 sec. and each group had one of the following intertrial intervals 0, 3, 10, 20, or 30 sec. It was found that performance curves for all groups were negatively accelerated increasing functions. Rate of approach to the asymptote was positively related to length of intertrial interval. Asymptote level appeared to be a negatively accelerated increasing function of intertrial interval.