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Visual flicker in depression: response criteria, confidence ratings and response times

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Joseph E. Herskovic ,
Mitchell L. Kietzman  and
Samuel Sutton
Joseph E. Herskovic*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychophysiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychology, Queen's College of the City University of New York
Mitchell L. Kietzman
Affiliation:
Department of Psychophysiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychology, Queen's College of the City University of New York
Samuel Sutton
Affiliation:
Department of Psychophysiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychology, Queen's College of the City University of New York
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Joseph E. Herskovic, Psychopharmacology Unit, Research Trailer No. 350, VA Medical Center, Brentwood (691/B151D), West Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA.
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Synopsis

Differences in response criterion and sensory sensitivity to visual flicker among major depressive patients, dysthymic patients, and normal controls were investigated. Also, signal detection confidence ratings and response times were compared. The results indicated that major depressive patients responded more conservatively (i.e. were less willing to respond ‘flicker’) than either of the other groups. The groups did not differ significantly on a criterion free measure of flicker sensitivity. The major conclusions are: (1) previously reported visual flicker differences between depressed patients and normal controls were probably due to the more conservative response criterion of the patients and not to flicker sensitivity differences between groups; and (2) confidence ratings and response times yield similar conclusions with respect to visual flicker sensitivity and response criterion. Therefore, interpretations concerning a sensory or perceptual deficit in depression must take into account the differences in response criterion between depressed patients and normal controls.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 16 , Issue 1 , February 1986 , pp. 187 - 197
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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