人类反应时间的热力学
The thermodynamics of human reaction times
AI总结：
本文提出了一种新的方法来解释行为实验中反应时间数据，通过热力学视角将反应时间分布的熵作为无模型估计认知系统处理量的指标，从而更准确地评估不同信息源对认知的影响。
摘要：
我提出了一种新的方法来解释行为实验中反应时间（RT）数据的解释。从物理角度看，RT分布的熵提供了一个无模型估计认知系统处理量的模型。因此，焦点从传统解释个体RT为长或短，转为关注其分布在熵方面的复杂性。新方法使在不参考刺激信息内容的情况下估计认知处理负荷，从而更准确地评估不同信息源对认知的影响。本文介绍了理论的提出，随后使用人类词汇任务（视觉词汇决策和词命名）的数据集进行实证验证。结果表明，这种新的RT解释比传统方法更强大。该方法提供了对单个刺激引发的处理负荷的理论估计。这些负荷明显区分了不同任务的响应。此外，它还为系统处理信息的速度提供了上限估计。最后，我论证了该理论提案及其相关实证证据为一个能够系统调整其操作处理速度以适应每个刺激特定需求的适应性系统提供了有力论据。这一发现与Hick定律相矛盾，Hick定律认为在实验情境内处理速度相对恒定。
英文摘要：
I present a new approach for the interpretation of reaction time (RT) data from behavioral experiments. From a physical perspective, the entropy of the RT distribution provides a model-free estimate of the amount of processing performed by the cognitive system. In this way, the focus is shifted from the conventional interpretation of individual RTs being either long or short, into their distribution being more or less complex in terms of entropy. The new approach enables the estimation of the cognitive processing load without reference to the informational content of the stimuli themselves, thus providing a more appropriate estimate of the cognitive impact of different sources of information that are carried by experimental stimuli or tasks. The paper introduces the formulation of the theory, followed by an empirical validation using a database of human RTs in lexical tasks (visual lexical decision and word naming). The results show that this new interpretation of RTs is more powerful than the traditional one. The method provides theoretical estimates of the processing loads elicited by individual stimuli. These loads sharply distinguish the responses from different tasks. In addition, it provides upper-bound estimates for the speed at which the system processes information. Finally, I argue that the theoretical proposal, and the associated empirical evidence, provide strong arguments for an adaptive system that systematically adjusts its operational processing speed to the particular demands of each stimulus. This finding is in contradiction with Hick's law, which posits a relatively constant processing speed within an experimental context.
机构、总结、中文摘要均由AI分析而来，可能存在错误，请以论文正文为准。
