Developmental Changes in the Speed of Information Processing

Summary Speed of information processing was estimated in a group of 108 boys, aged 54–207 months, by subtracting each S's simple reaction time (RT) from his choice RT obtained in a task involving two alternative stimuli. The resulting quantity, namely the decision time (DT), was found to be related to age according to a reciprocal power-law function. The correlation coefficient between log DT and log age, which was equal to - .69, was highly significant (p < < .001). On the basis of the regression equation derived from these data, 5-year-olds took nearly three times longer than 17-year-olds to process one bit of information.

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