Optimum range of total frequencies for quickness in auditory reactions

Abstract

Quickness of response is an essential characteristic of a sense organ when considered from the point of view of its suitability for use as a channel of information in a display control situation. It has long been known that the human war is maximally sensitive to tones of frequencies of 2000-4000 c/s but it was not clear whether response of the auditory system to tones of frequencies in this range would be the quickest also. In the experiment described here, Reaction time technique was used to measure the quickness of repines of the ear to tones of different frequencies, ranging from 600 to 15000 c/s. The intensity of output of the tones was kept constant. Analysis of the data showed that the average reaction time was shortest for tones of frequencies of 1500-4000 c/s. The length of the reaction times increased on either side of this band of frequencies.