Serial reaction time
Encyclopedia
Serial reaction time is a commonly used parameter for measuring implicit learning
. In a SRT task, participants are asked to repeatedly respond to a fixed set of stimuli
in which each cue signals that a particular response (i.e., button press) needs to be made. Unbeknownst to the participant, there are probabilities governing the transition between the cues, and thus required responses following one cue have some predictability. As a result, Reaction Time (RTs) to these cues become increasingly fast as subjects learn and utilize these transition probabilities.
Implicit learning
Implicit learning is learning of complex information in an incidental manner, without awareness of what has been learned. It may require a certain minimal amount of attention and may depend on attentional and working memory mechanisms...
. In a SRT task, participants are asked to repeatedly respond to a fixed set of stimuli
Stimulus (physiology)
In physiology, a stimulus is a detectable change in the internal or external environment. The ability of an organism or organ to respond to external stimuli is called sensitivity....
in which each cue signals that a particular response (i.e., button press) needs to be made. Unbeknownst to the participant, there are probabilities governing the transition between the cues, and thus required responses following one cue have some predictability. As a result, Reaction Time (RTs) to these cues become increasingly fast as subjects learn and utilize these transition probabilities.