Movement Duration, Fractionated Reaction Time, and Response Programming

The purpose of this study was to determine how the manipulation of movement duration affects components of fractionated reaction time and presumably motor programming. Twelve subjects, in a simple reaction time paradigm, responded to an auditory signal by executing an elbow flexion movement in the sagittal plane through a range of motion of 100° in 150, 300, 600 and 1200 ms. Results indicated no changes in motor time but small increments in premotor and reaction time through the 600 ms condition. At 1200 ms, reaction time increased faster than premotor time, and this appeared to be predominantly a consequence of an increment in motor time. These data were interpreted to be supportive of the notion that movement duration is related to response complexity and the time required for motor programming.

[1]  A. Weiss,et al.  THE LOCUS OF REACTION TIME CHANGE WITH SET, MOTIVATION, AND AGE. , 1965, Journal of gerontology.

[2]  M G Fischman,et al.  Programming time as a function of number of movement parts and changes in movement direction. , 1984, Journal of motor behavior.

[3]  S. T. Klapp,et al.  Response programming in simple and choice reactions. , 1974, Journal of motor behavior.

[4]  H N Zelaznik,et al.  Target-size influences on reaction time with movement time controlled. , 1980, Journal of motor behavior.

[5]  F. M. Henry,et al.  Increased Response Latency for Complicated Movements and A “Memory Drum” Theory of Neuromotor Reaction , 1960 .

[6]  D. J. Glencross,et al.  Latency and response complexity. , 1972, Journal of motor behavior.

[7]  S. T. Klapp,et al.  Relation between programming time and duration of the response being programmed. , 1976, Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance.

[8]  S. T. Klapp,et al.  REACTION TIME ANALYSIS Of PROGRAMMED CONTROL , 1977, Exercise and sport sciences reviews.

[9]  F. Donders.  On the speed of mental processes. , 1969, Acta psychologica.

[10]  S. T. Klapp,et al.  Feedback versus motor programming in the control of aimed movements , 1975 .

[11]  Stephen Monsell,et al.  The Latency and Duration of Rapid Movement Sequences: Comparisons of Speech and Typewriting , 1978 .

[12]  R. Marteniuk,et al.  Dimensions of Motor Task Complexity , 1976 .

[13]  F M Henry,et al.  Use of simple reaction time in motor programming studies: a reply to Klapp, Wyatt and Lingo. , 1980, Journal of motor behavior.

[14]  S T Klapp,et al.  The memory drum theory after twenty years: comments on Henry's note. , 1980, Journal of motor behavior.

[15]  B. Kerr,et al.  Task Factors That Influence Selection and Preparation for Voluntary Movements , 1978 .