Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, USA.
University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, USA.
J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2023 Jun;29(5):492-502. doi: 10.1017/S1355617722000431. Epub 2022 Aug 31.
Reaction time variability (RTV) has been estimated using Gaussian, ex-Gaussian, and diffusion model (DM) indices. Rarely have studies examined interrelationships among these performance indices in childhood, and the use of reaction time (RT) computational models has been slow to take hold in the developmental psychopathology literature. Here, we extend prior work in adults by examining the interrelationships among different model parameters in the ABCD sample and demonstrate how computational models of RT can clarify mechanisms of time-on-task effects and sex differences in RTs.
This study utilized trial-level data from the stop signal task from 8916 children (9-10 years old) to examine Gaussian, ex-Gaussian, and DM indicators of RTV. In addition to describing RTV patterns, we examined interrelations among these indicators, temporal patterns, and sex differences.
There was no one-to-one correspondence between DM and ex-Gaussian parameters. Nonetheless, drift rate was most strongly associated with standard deviation of RT and tau, while nondecisional processes were most strongly associated with RT, mu, and sigma. Performance worsened across time with changes driven primarily by decreasing drift rate. Boys were faster and less variable than girls, likely attributable to girls' wide boundary separation.
Intercorrelations among model parameters are similar in children as has been observed in adults. Computational approaches play a crucial role in understanding performance changes over time and can also clarify mechanisms of group differences. For example, standard RT models may incorrectly suggest slowed processing speed in girls that is actually attributable to other factors.
反应时变异性（RTV）已通过高斯、超伽马和扩散模型（DM）指数进行评估。很少有研究在儿童时期考察这些性能指标之间的相互关系，而且 RT 计算模型在发展心理病理学文献中的应用也一直缓慢。在这里，我们通过检查 ABCD 样本中不同模型参数之间的相互关系，扩展了成人的先前工作，并展示了 RT 计算模型如何阐明时间任务效应的机制以及 RT 中的性别差异。
本研究利用来自 8916 名儿童（9-10 岁）的停止信号任务的试验级数据，检查 RTV 的高斯、超伽马和 DM 指标。除了描述 RTV 模式外，我们还考察了这些指标、时间模式和性别差异之间的相互关系。
DM 和超伽马参数之间没有一一对应的关系。尽管如此，漂移率与 RT 和 tau 的标准差最相关，而非决策过程与 RT、mu 和 sigma 最相关。随着时间的推移，性能逐渐恶化，主要是由于漂移率的降低所致。男孩比女孩更快且变异性更小，这可能归因于女孩的宽边界分离。
儿童中模型参数之间的相互关系与成人中观察到的相似。计算方法在理解随时间变化的性能变化方面起着至关重要的作用，并且还可以阐明群体差异的机制。例如，标准 RT 模型可能错误地表明女孩的处理速度较慢，而实际上这归因于其他因素。
