Theoretical models of reaction times arising from simple-choice tasks.

In this work we present a group of theoretical models for reaction times arising from simple-choice task tests. In particular, we argue for the inclusion of a shifted version of the Gamma distribution as a theoretical model based on a mathematical result on first hitting times. We contrast the goodness-of-fit of those models with the Ex-Gaussian distribution, using data from recently published experiments. The evidence of the results obtained highlights the convenience of proposing theoretical models for reaction times instead of models acting exclusively as quantitative distribution measurements.

Fatigue-life distributions for reaction time data.

The family of fatigue-life distributions is introduced as an alternative model of reaction time data. This family includes the shifted Wald distribution and a shifted version of the Birnbaum-Saunders distribution. Although the former has been proposed as a way to model reaction time data, the latter has not. Hence, we provide theoretical, mathematical and practical arguments in support of the shifted Birnbaum-Saunders as a suitable model of simple reaction times and associated cognitive mechanisms.

The membrane potential process of a single neuron seen as a cumulative damage process.

A simple integrate-and-fire mechanism of a single neuron can be compared with a cumulative damage process, where the spiking process is analogous to rupture sequences of a material under cycles of stress. Although in some cases lognormal-like patterns can be recognized in the inter-spike times under a simple integrate-and-fire mechanism, fatigue life models as the inverse Gaussian distribution and the Birnbaum-Saunders distribution (which was recently introduced in the neural activity framework) provide theoretical arguments that make them more suitable for the modeling of the resulting inter-spike times.