Differences In Simple Reaction Time Research Articles

Retrospective composite analysis of StartReact data indicates sex differences in simple reaction time are not attributable to response preparation

Simple reaction time (RT) can vary by sex, with males generally displaying faster RTs than females. Although several explanations have been offered, the possibility that response preparation differences may underlie the effect of sex on simple RT has not yet been explored. A startling acoustic stimulus (SAS) can involuntarily trigger a prepared motor response (i.e., StartReact effect), and as such, RT latencies on SAS trials and the proportion of these trials demonstrating startle-reflex EMG in the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle are used as indirect measures of response preparation. The present study employed a retrospective analysis of composite individual participant data (IPD) from 25 datasets published between 2006 and 2019 to examine sex differences in response preparation. Linear mixed effects models assessed the effect of sex on control and SAS RT as well as the proportion of SAS trials with SCM activation while controlling for study design. Results indicated significantly longer control RT in female participants as compared to males (p = .017); however, there were no significant sex differences in SAS RT (p = .441) or the proportion of trials with startle reflex activity (p = .242). These results suggest that sex differences in simple RT are not explained by variations in levels of response preparation but instead may be the result of differences in perceptual processing and/or response initiation processes.

Reaction Times among Batik Workers: The Influence of Gender and Occupational Lead Exposure.

(1) Background: Neglected occupational health and safety aspects in batik industries cause their workers to have an increased risk of lead exposure. The effect of occupational lead exposure on neurocognitive performance is inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted an observational study to examine the difference in simple reaction time between lead-exposed batik workers and non-exposed referents. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in seven batik enterprises in Lendah District, Indonesia, excluding workers with medical conditions impairing reaction time. Simple reaction time tests were conducted using an online tool. Two-way model ANCOVAs examined interactions between gender and job types on the mean differences in reaction time. (3) Results: After controlling for age and body mass index, we observed longer reaction times among lead-exposed batik workers than non-exposed referents with an adjusted mean difference of 0.19 (95% CI: 0.016–0.368) seconds. A more prominent detrimental effect of lead exposure on reaction time among female workers than among male workers was observed. (4) Conclusions: Our results suggest that occupational lead exposure could contribute to longer reaction time, notably among female workers. Thus, occupational health and safety precautions are vital to protect batik workers and preserve their important contributions to cultural heritage.

A-171 An Evaluation of Remotely Administered Reaction Time Subtests

Abstract Objective Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many services attempted to quickly transition to a remote format. A need to incorporate and evaluate a remote delivery of neuropsychological measures arose. TestMyBrain (TMB) from the Many Brains Project has been utilizing teleneuropsychology in research since 2017. Method Volunteer research participants (N = 176, Mage = 29, Medu = 15 years, 64.7% white, 54.2% female, 83.2% right-handed) were administered TMB Simple Reaction Time and Choice Reaction Time subtest as part of a larger battery via zoom. Participants were able to choose between completing these measures using a keyboard, mouse, or a touch screen. There were no significant differences among demographic variables across the different completion methods. Results An ANCOVA indicated there was not a significant difference in simple reaction time across the different response F(2,168) = 0.482, p = 0.618, ηp2 = 0.006. There was however a significant difference in choice reaction time across the different response methods F(2,168) = 11.486, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.120. Conclusion Results suggest different response methods maybe suitable for simpler tasks, yet there lacks consistency in response methods for more complex tasks. This medium effect size may have occurred as a result of the lack of sensitivity for devices to detect taps on different portions of the screen as effectively as various keys on a keyboard. Administrators must be aware of the limitations response methods may introduce into results. Limitation to this analysis include limited samples and not controlling for other factors that may potentially influence reaction time such as internet connection. Future research should focus on creating a standardized method for teleneuropsychology administration.

Cognitive profiles in major depressive disorder: Comparing remitters and non-remitters to rTMS treatment

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is typically accompanied by cognitive impairment. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) treatment for MDD involves stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex which plays an important role in cognition. This study aimed to identify differences in cognitive profiles between remitters and non-remitters to rTMS at baseline and across treatment. 25 patients with MDD performed cognitive tasks at baseline and after 6, 12 and 30 sessions of rTMS. At baseline, there was no difference in simple reaction time (RT) between groups, but remitters (n = 13) showed faster RTs than non-remitters (n = 12) in the Switch and No-Switch conditions of Task Switching. Across sessions, remitters showed a decrease in 3-Back omission errors and RTs to 3-Back, Stroop's Congruent and Incongruent, and Task Switching's Switch and No-Switch conditions, whereas non-remitters only showed improvements in Stroop Congruent and Incongruent RTs. Baseline and final scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were positively correlated with Switch and No-Switch RTs. This study demonstrates that eventual remitters to rTMS treatment for MDD perform better in cognitive tasks requiring shifting attention, and this difference is observable prior to the start of treatment. Remitters also show improvement in both their mood and cognitive performance.

Specific Attentional Disorders and Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease.

Due to its high prevalence in dual-task paradigms, freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease is thought to be associated with dysexecutive syndrome and attentional disorders. However, the role of specific attentional disorders in patients with freezing of gait is still unclear. Here, we sought to specifically determine which basic attentional modalities are impaired in patients with freezing of gait. Seventy-eight parkinsonian patients performed a computer-controlled reaction-time paradigm designed to measure the different attentional subcomponents, controlled for visuospatial processing and motor participation. The freezer (n = 42) and non-freezer (n = 36) groups were matched for age, educational level, MMSE and Mattis Dementia Rating Scale. There were no intergroup differences in simple reaction times, whereas choice reaction times were higher in the freezer group than in the non-freezer group for divided attention (p = 0.023). At equivalent levels of overall cognitive efficiency, freezer patients showed a greater slowdown than non-freezer patients with a specific impairment in divided attention.

Relationship between dual‐task performance and neurocognitive measures in older adults with mild cognitive impairment

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between dual-task performance and neurocognitive measures in community-dwelling older people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A total of 98 subjects (mean age 74.8 years, 52.0% female) participated in the study. We compared 36 participants with amnestic MCI (aMCI) with 62 participants with non-amnestic MCI (non-aMCI) on dual-task performance as measured by reaction time responses. The relationships between dual-task performance and multiple domains of neurocognitive functions, including general cognitive function, visual memory, working memory, executive function and processing speed, were examined. Although there were no statistically significant group differences in simple reaction times (P = 0.734), the aMCI group showed significantly slower dual-task reaction times than the non-aMCI group (P = 0.012). Using multiple regression analysis, we found that there was a significant relationship between executive function and dual-task reaction times (β = 0.298, P = 0.006). These results showed that aMCI subjects showed a specific deficit in dual-task performance compared with non-aMCI subjects, and poor dual-task performance was associated with declines in executive function in older people with MCI. Future longitudinal and interventional studies should investigate the use of dual-task testing with varying levels of cognitive demand in older adults at risk of dementia.

Discriminating Drivers through Human Factor and Behavioral Difference

Since Greenwood and Woods' (1919) study in tendency of accident, many researchers have insisted that various human factors (sensation seeking, anger, anxiety) are highly correlated with reckless driving and traffic accidents. Oh and Lee (2011) designed the Driving Behavior Determinants Questionnaire, a psychological tool to predict danger level of drivers and discriminate them into three groups (normal, unintentionally reckless, and intentionally reckless) by their characteristics, attitude, and expected reckless behavior level. This tool's overall accuracy of discrimination was 70%. This study aimed to prove that the discrimination reflects the behavioral difference of drivers. Twenty-four young drivers were requested to react to the visual stimuli (tests for subjective speed sense, simple visual reaction time, and left turning at own risk). The results showed no differences in subjective speed sense among the driver groups, which means drivers' excessive speeding behaviors occur due to intention based on personality and attitude, not because of sensory disorders. In addition, there were no differences in simple reaction time among driver groups. However, the results of the ‘Left turning at drivers’ own risk task” revealed significant group differences. All reckless drivers showed a greater degree of dangerous left turning behaviors than the normal group did.

Preferential processing of tactile events under conditions of divided attention

Differences in transduction and transmission latencies of visual, auditory and tactile events cause corresponding differences in simple reaction time. As reaction time is usually measured in unimodal blocks, it is unclear whether such latency differences also apply when observers monitor multiple sensory channels. We investigate this by comparing reaction time when attention is focused on a single modality, and when attention is divided between multiple modalities. Results show that tactile reaction time is unaffected by dividing attention, whereas visual and auditory reaction times are significantly and asymmetrically increased. These findings show that tactile information is processed preferentially by the nervous system under conditions of divided attention, and suggest that tactile events may be processed preattentively.

Intensive baseball practice improves the Go/Nogo reaction time, but not the simple reaction time

Baseball hitters are required to make decisions whether to swing or not as quickly as possible. Therefore, we can assume that skilled baseball players have a quicker response. To verify this hypothesis, we assessed the effect of baseball experience or skill levels on simple reaction times and Go/Nogo reaction times in 82 university students (22 baseball players, 22 tennis players, and 38 nonathletes) and 17 professional baseball players. Also, to clarify whether this ability was innate or acquired, we examined the effects of long-term practice for baseball hitting in 94 senior high school students (26 baseball players and 68 non-baseball players). There were no differences in simple reaction time either for sports experience or for skill levels. On the contrary, the Go/Nogo reaction time for baseball players was significantly shorter than that of the tennis players and nonathletes. The Go/Nogo reaction time of higher-skill baseball players was significantly shorter than that of lower-skill players, while that of the professional baseball players was the shortest. The professional players showed the highest (almost linear) correlation between the Go/Nogo reaction time and simple reaction time. A longitudinal study showed that 2 years of hitting practice improved the Go/Nogo reaction time, while the simple reaction time remained constant. A cross-sectional study of high school non-baseball players showed no differences either in the simple or Go/Nogo reaction times in relation to school year. In conclusion, intensive practice, including Go or Nogo decision making, improved the Go/Nogo reaction time, but not the simple reaction time.

Ear differences in simple reaction time: The influence of attentional factors

Simple motor reaction times (right-handed) to tape-recorded consonant-vowel syllables were obtained from 12 subjects under two conditions of monotic stimulation: “expected” presentation (subject informed as to ear of presentation) and “random” presentation (ear of presentation varied randomly). Significantly faster left ear reaction times were obtained in the “expected” condition. The rank order of subjects' standard dichotic listening task scores correlated negatively with reaction time ear differences in the “expected” presentation condition. Results are discussed in terms of existing theories of response lateralization in simple reaction time tasks, and an expanded hypothesis is offered. Specifically, it is suggested that two or more distinct but potentially overlapping mechanisms may be responsible for observed asymmetries in monotic auditory perception. Both an attentional or lateralized motor response bias and an inherent lateralization of function may operate side by side, differentially activated by task demands, mode of stimulus presentation, and nature of stimuli.

Hemispheric differences in simple reaction time to auditory stimuli of different frequencies.

To determine whether reaction time varies as a function of tone frequency and/or ear stimulated 27 adult subjects were presented with two two-tone series (1,000 Hz vs 2,500 Hz and 1,500 Hz vs 4,000 Hz) in a simple reaction-time paradigm. The analyses clearly indicated that the higher tone in each series and stimulation to the right ear resulted in significantly shorter reaction times. These results were interpreted as indicating that cerebral asymmetries are apparent in tasks and with stimuli that do not seem to require higher-order inferences regrading the functional organization of the cerebral hemispheres.

Reaction time as a diagnostic measure in senility.

Both simple and disjunctive reaction times (RT) are known to slow with aging but there is a paucity of information on RT changes in senility. Since disjunctive RT involves cognition in addition to the sensory-motor speed and attentional components of simple RT, it was hypothesized that disjunctive RT would be a reliable index of age-related mental decline. To test this prediction, simple and disjunctive RT were measured in matched groups of 20 normal and 20 cognitively impaired elderly. Simple RT was slower in the senile patients than in the normal subjects, but this difference was accounted for by differences in disjunctive RT. The senile patients showed a much larger performance decrement with respect to disjunctive RT than did the normal subjects--a difference which was not accounted for by differences in simple RT. In a discriminant function analysis, disjunctive RT alone correctly identified the senile patients and the normal subjects with 86% accuracy. Thus, this measure proved to be a reliable index of age-related mental decline. Preliminary data indicate that disjunctive RT slowing is correlated with non-memory mental decline, and that poor performance is related to the need for care and supervision.

Differential effects of simple and choice reaction after closed head injury

Simple and choice reaction time to visual signals were recorded in persons having sustained a closed head injury. The results show a disproportional effect of task complexity in comparison to the performance of a normal group. Moreover, an interaction was demonstrated between complexity of the reaction task and length of coma after the injury. Finally it was shown that this interaction was still visible 22 months after the concussion. At that time, there is no longer a difference in simple reaction time between groups with different lengths of coma, while there is still a significant difference in the choice reaction task.