The time dependence of the optogalvanic signals induced by 1s(j) --> 2p(k) (Paschen notation) pulsed laser excitations of neon in a low power similar to 30 MHz radio frequency (rf) discharge at similar to 5 Torr has been investigated. The method of Kumar and McGlynn [Chem. Phys. Lett. 176, 536 (1991)] has been improved and is used to separate the temporal profiles of the optogalvanic signals into two components : one attributable to ionization rate changes and the other to acoustic effects. This separation simplifies the identification of the kinetic processes which produce optogalvanic signals. Selective laser excitation of 2p(k) states, ones which possess quite different decay branching ratios to the metastable and nonmetastable 1s(j) states, reveals time dependencies due to unique perturbations of specific 1s(j) populations. No dimer mediated nor, indeed, any effects associable with 2p(k) state populations contribute to the profiles. Competitive processes which increase or decrease the ionization rates are identified at t greater than or equal to 1 mu s. The extensive broadening of the acoustic and ionization components is caused by radiation trapping of 1s(2) --> S-1(0) and 1S(4) --> S-1(0) photons.