A reaction-time analysis of electrocochlear stimulation in cats.

The effects of pulse width and interstimulus interval of electrocochlear stimulation on behavioral reaction times were investigated in cats. It was determined that square wave biphasic stimuli with pulse widths of 0.5 msec. elicited faster reaction times than did pulse widths of 0.2 msec. On the other hand, stimuli of 1.0 msec pulse widths showed no appreciable difference in reaction times when compared to 0.5 msec pulse widths. The effects of interstimulus interval (ISI) on reaction times are also discussed. An interstimulus interval of 2 msec demonstrated no marked difference in reaction time when compared to the same stimulus with an ISI of 4 msec.