Continuing and reversing the direction of responding movements: Some exceptions to the so-called "psychological refractory period."

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Abstract
DELAYS IN RESPONDING TO A SIGNAL TO CONTINUE OR TO REVERSE THE DIRECTION OF A RESPONSE MOVEMENT WERE CALCULATED WHERE THE SIGNAL ARRIVED SHORTLY BEFORE THE RESPONSE MOVEMENT TO A PRIOR SIGNAL BEGAN. SS WERE 5 MALE AND 2 FEMALE UNDERGRADUATES. RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE PROCESSING OF SIGNALS CONVEYING INSTRUCTIONS TO CONTINUE A RESPONDING MOVEMENT IS NOT DELAYED, EVEN WHEN THE 2ND SIGNAL ARRIVES DURING RT1. DATA SUGGEST THAT SIGNALS TO REVERSE THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT MAY ALSO BE PROCESSED WITHOUT DELAYS. THIS EVIDENCE INDICATES THE SELECTIVE NATURE OF THE "GATING PROCESS," BY WHICH ONGOING ACTIVITY OF THE DECISION MECHANISM IS ASSUMED TO BE PROTECTED FROM THE ARRIVAL OF FURTHER SIGNALS. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)