Reaction times (s1w1)

Question 1

define reaction time

Answer 1

‘a measure of the time from the arrival of a suddenly presented, unanticipated signal to the beginning of the response to it’

Question 2

Answer 2

Question 3

what is a simple reaction time

Answer 3

• one stimulus and one response
• stimulus → processing → response
• e.g. sprint start, when pistol sounds you react and run

Question 4

Which would give a faster reaction time and why: force trace or camera/video?

Answer 4

force trace because force has to be applied first to then move

Question 5

warning

Answer 5

warning given e.g. “are you ready?”

Question 6

foreperiod

Answer 6

• time between warning being given and stimulus being presented
• foreperiod should be varied as if it was the same length of time every time, the stimulus would be anticipated
• if foreperiod is too short, won’t be ready as can’t get into correct state quick enough
• if foreperiod is too long - ageing foreperiod - lose tension, focus and motivation

Question 7

reaction time and response time

Answer 7

• Reaction time = from stimulus to first visible response
• Reaction time + movement time (until end of response) = response time
• Sometimes you are actually measuring response time e.g. if participant is pressing a button when stimulus appears, takes time to press button once they react

Question 8

motor reaction time

Answer 8

• building up enough force to be able to move
• working out what’s being presented and deciding what to do

Question 9

false start in 100m sprint

Answer 9

• if you respond quicker than 100 ms (0.1 secs), it’s a false start
• this is the minimum auditory reaction so if you respond quicker you must have anticipated the gun

Question 10

choice reaction time

Answer 10

• 2 stimuli and 2 responses
• stimulus → stimulus identification → response selection → response programming → movement
• e.g. pressing ‘z’ when the tennis ball shows up on the screen, pressing ‘m’ when the football shows

Question 11

discrimination reaction time

Answer 11

• 2 stimuli, 1 response
• ‘go/no go’
• E.g. pressing the spacebar when the tennis ball shows up on screen, doing nothing when golf ball shows

Question 12

Donder’s subtractive method

simple reaction time - how long?

Answer 12

200 ms

Question 13

Donder’s subtractive method

discrimination reaction time (go/no go) - how long?

Answer 13

230 ms

Question 14

Donder’s subtractive method

choice reaction time - how long?

Answer 14

285 ms

Question 15

Donder’s subtractive method - the maths

Answer 15

• 230 - 200 ms = takes an extra 30 ms to process another stimuli and decide whether to respond or not
• 1 extra response equates to an extra 55 ms (285-230)
• More complex movement = longer reaction time