How does the single channel hypothesis explain the psychological refractory period?

The first stimulus occupies the single channel. The second stimulus cannot be processed until the channel is clear, so the response is delayed.

Give a sporting example of the psychological refractory period.

A rugby player dummies a pass, and the defender starts to react to it. The attacker then runs, and the defender is slow to respond to the second movement.

How does a deflected shot in football cause the psychological refractory period?

The goalkeeper starts responding to the original flight of the ball. The deflection is a second stimulus, so the keeper's adjustment is delayed.

AQA A-Level Physical Education 7582

The Cardiovascular System

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Information Processing and Memory

The psychological refractory period and anticipation

3 things to know
Paper 1

Overview

The single channel hypothesis, the psychological refractory period and dummies, temporal and spatial anticipation, false starts, and ways to improve response time.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

What is the single channel hypothesis?

Key term

Why is the single channel likened to a bottleneck?

Key term

Define the psychological refractory period.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is the single channel hypothesis?
Model answer
The single channel hypothesis states that the brain processes only one stimulus at a time. A second stimulus must wait until the first has been dealt with.
2
Why is the single channel likened to a bottleneck?
Model answer
Information from several stimuli must pass through one channel in turn. The queue delays the response to any later stimulus.
3
Define the psychological refractory period.
Model answer
The psychological refractory period is an extra delay in responding to a second stimulus. The delay occurs because the second stimulus arrives while the first is still processed.
4
How does the single channel hypothesis explain the psychological refractory period?
Model answer
The first stimulus occupies the single channel. The second stimulus cannot be processed until the channel is clear, so the response is delayed.
5
Give a sporting example of the psychological refractory period.
Model answer
A rugby player dummies a pass, and the defender starts to react to it. The attacker then runs, and the defender is slow to respond to the second movement.
6
How does a deflected shot in football cause the psychological refractory period?
Model answer
The goalkeeper starts responding to the original flight of the ball. The deflection is a second stimulus, so the keeper's adjustment is delayed.

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