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Science 17 August 1962:
Vol. 137. no. 3529, pp. 533 - 534
DOI: 10.1126/science.137.3529.533
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Articles

Beta Brain Waves as an Index of Alertness

Robert E. Dustman 1, Reed S. Boswell 1, and Paul B. Porter 1

1 Veterans Administration Hospital and Neurology Division, Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City

Reaction times of human subjects are reliably shorter when the signal to respond is given during spontaneous low voltage, fast (beta) brain waves than they are when the signal is given during spontaneous alpha waves. The mean difference of 12 milliseconds is, however, trivial in comparison to the advantage to be expected from forewarning.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)