Pre-Conference Workshops > Workshop 1

Workshop 1

Title: From Measurement to Modelling: Essential Methods for Multisensory Reaction Time Research

Organizers: Thomas Otto, Kalvin Roberts

Topics: Multisensory integration; reaction time; behavioral methods; timing precision; RT analysis; distribution fitting; race model; inequality tests; probabilistic modelling.

Description: Multisensory research relies hugely on reaction time (RT) measures to quantify behavioral benefits and identify underlying processing mechanisms. This workshop provides an accessible yet rigorous overview of best practices for collecting, analyzing, and modelling RT data in multisensory experiments. We begin by outlining key considerations in RT measurement, including hardware and software timing precision, response devices, trial structure, and strategies to maximize multisensory benefits. The workshop then introduces fundamental analytical procedures, emphasizing the probabilistic nature of RTs and the importance of distribution-level approaches beyond mean-based summaries. Attendees will learn practical methods for visualizing and characterizing RT distributions and summarizing RT distributions across participants. Building on this foundation, the workshop covers core modelling techniques used to test multisensory processing accounts. We illustrate the classic race model and its inequality test, discussing implementation, interpretation, and common pitfalls. Finally, to support robust inference about multisensory integration mechanisms, we provide guidance on fitting parametric RT distributions and offer a concise introduction to model development. Designed for researchers at all levels, this workshop aims to strengthen methodological literacy and promote reproducible, theory-driven analysis of multisensory reaction time data.

Dependencies: Matlab