Reaction Time And Developing Effective Performance Flashcards
What is reaction time?
The time between the onset of the stimulus and the start of the movement in response to it
Use a practical example to explain input, Decision making and output
Input: everything the performer can see and hear: crowd, gun, track
Decision making: selective attention and recognise the stimulus, based on past experience the performer decides to run
Output: to sprint
What is the equation for response time?
Reaction time + movement time = response time
What is movement time?
The time is tales from starting the movement to competing it
E.g from the first movement off the blocks to the end of the race
What is response time?
Time from the onset of the stimulus to the completion of the movement
From the gun going off to the end of the race
Factors affecting reaction time
Age: reaction time improves up until 21
Alcohol and drugs: alcohol slows down
Gender: females tend to have a slower reaction time
Personality: extroverts tend to have a faster reaction time
Fitness: fitter you will have a faster reaction time
Past experience: faster reaction with more experience
Stimulus intensity: obvious stimulus will speed up reaction time
What is the single channel hypothesis?
Suggests that the brain can only deal with one stimulus at a time
Each stimulus needs to be processed before the next stimulus can be dealt with
E.g dodging outwits your opponent
What does Hick’s law suggest?
Choice of reaction time increases linearly as the number of stimulus alternatives increases
How can you improve a performers reaction time?
Practice: more, the quicker
Mental rehearsal: activates nerve impulses
Experience: more, the quicker
Stimulus response capability: if it is what you are used to doing, reaction time will be quicker
Cue detection: pick up on cues to read environment
Improve physical fitness: improved reaction
Concentration: fully focused
Level of arousal: optimum level
Warm up: activated appropriate muscles
Anticipation: predict what’s going on
What is anticipation?
When a performer is able to initiate actions using signals and cues from the environment and recognising them early thus predicting what is going to happen
What is spatial anticipation?
Predicting what will happen
Cricket batsmen predicting the type of ball able to be bowled
What is temporal anticipation?
Predicting when it will happen
A football goal keeper predicting when a ball will be crossed and coming out to catch it
What is the psychological refractory period?
Stimulus 1: shaping the ball
Reaction 1: blocking the ball
Stimulus 2: kicking the ball in the opposite direction
Physiological refractory period: time taken to respond to the second stimulus
Response 2: turn around and chase the attacker
