Abstract
Previous research suggests that slower responding by mentally retarded individuals reflects impairments in those executive cognitive processes mediating rapid information-processing. We suggest that one approach to the clarification of the nature and extent of such impairments and, specifically, the involvement of structural and control process parameters is via an examination of those processes underlying the speed-accuracy operating characteristics of retarded subjects. To respond as quickly as possible while maintaining virtually error-free performance, subjects must sensitively monitor and regulate both accuracy and speed of responding from trial to trial. Suggested procedures for investigating the efficiency of such processes in retarded subjects involve examinations of error detection performance, and of speed-accuracy tradeoff functions generated using time bands, reaction-time partitioning, and response signals.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 211-222 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | American Journal of Mental Deficiency |
Volume | 87 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - Dec 1982 |
Externally published | Yes |