Stimulus Complexity, Movement Complexity, Age, and Sex in Relation to Reaction Latency and Speed in Limb Movements

Abstract

Abstract Reaction latency and time required for basic limb movements made at maximal speed were measured in 402 subjects including both sexes and several ages within the range 8–30 years. Variation of stimulus type and complexity as well as movement type and complexity had no influence on the amount of correlation between reaction and movement times. Neither age nor sex influenced the amount of correlation, which was close to zero under all conditions even though reaction and movement time reliabilities were high. It was shown that differential conditions of “set” and/or other factors could cause the appearance of correlation. Women reacted slower than men, but the difference (less than .01 sec.) was considered unimportant. They averaged 22 percent slower in movement time than men. Subjects less than 18 years of age reacted and moved slower than adults.