Abstract
This study investigated the effect of variable interstimulus intervals (ISIs) on behavioral
reaction time (RT) and on the latency and amplitude of the auditory P300 using an auditory continuous performance task (ACPT) paradigm. Twenty subjects were
instructed to respond to common stimuli and ignore a rare stimulus. Common stimuli
were 1000-, 1500-, and 2000-Hz pure tones. The rare stimulus was a 250-Hz pure tone.
ISIs of 1, 2, and 4 seconds were used for this investigation. A significant correlation
between ISI, reaction time, P300 latency, correct rejections, and false alarm rates was found. A significant correlation
between P300 latency, Ρ amplitude, correct rejections, and false alarm rates was also observed.
Likewise, a statistically significant increase in reaction time (RT) was observed
as ISI increased. The ACPT paradigm in conjunction with the auditory P300 response can measure both behavioral and electrophysiologic changes that occur during
active auditory attention and auditory cognitive processing tasks.
Abbreviations: ACPT = auditory continuous performance task, ADHD = attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder, AERP = auditory event-related potential, CAPD = central auditory processing
disorder, CCPT = Conner's continuous performance task, CPT = continuous performance
task, ISI = interstimulus interval, RT = reaction time, VCPT = visual continuous performance
task, VERP = visual event-related potential
Key Words
Auditory attention - auditory cognitive processing - auditory continuous performance
task paradigm - auditory P
300
- reaction time - variable interstimulus interval