Stimulus onset asynchrony

Stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA) is a measure used in experimental psychology. SOA denotes the amount of time between the start of one stimulus and the start of another stimulus. In a certain kind of studies on subliminal stimulation, called "pattern masking", subliminality is achieved by masking the subliminal stimulus with a second stimulus composed of either random parts of letters or numbers, or containing different kinds of figural properties. Here, the critical parameter is the time interval (the SOA) between the onset of the subliminal stimulus and the onset of the masking stimulus.[1] In psycholinguistics the stimuli are typically a prime and a target, in which case the stimulus-onset asynchrony is measured from the beginning of the prime until the beginning of the target. This time can be manipulated experimentally to determine its effects on other dependent measures such as reaction time or brain activity.[2]

For an example of the application of stimulus-onset asynchrony, see Psychological Refractory Period.

References

  1. ↑ Shevrin, H. (Ed.). (1996). "Conscious and unconscious processes: Psychodynamic, cognitive, and neurophysiological convergences." Guilford Press. p 102.
  2. ↑ Harley, T. (2008). The Psychology of Language. 3rd edition. New York: Psychology Press. p 171.
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