Inhibition in speed and concentration tests: The Poisson inhibition model (Q1902597)

Several authors have developed several models to account for the reaction time fluctuation in concentration tests, which consist of overlearned continuous response tasks, also referred to as overlearned prolonged work tasks. In this article a new model is presented, which is a natural generalization of an earlier model, the so-called Poisson-Erlang model, which was published by \textit{J. P. M. Pieters} and \textit{A. H. G. van der Ven} [Appl. Psychol. Measurement 6, 93-109 (1982)]. First, this paper describes the type of tasks for which the models have been developed. Next, a short overview is given of the models which have been developed in the past. Following that, the new model, called the Poisson inhibition model, is described. Finally, it is shown that the interpretation of the main descriptive properties of the time series in terms of the inhibition model is in complete agreement with the universal factors postulated by \textit{C. Spearman} [The abilities of man. (1927)] which are \({\mathbf g}\) and oscillation and perseveration.