Effects of the similarity of required responses on fractionated reaction time.
In a previous study, Ito (1990) who used a rapid two-element force-production task, found that the simple reaction time (RT) to initiate the second element was shorter when a sequence was made up of homogeneous elements than when a sequence was made up of heterogeneous elements. The purpose of the present study was to replicate and extend the earlier experiment by adding a control condition and by fractionating RT into premotor time and motor time. Simple RT, premotor time, and motor time to initiate the first element were not different across conditions, suggesting the possibility of distributed programming of the sequence elements. The homogeneous condition, however, produced shorter simple RT and premotor time to initiate the second element than did the heterogeneous and control conditions, which were not significantly different from each other. These findings were discussed in terms of different programming demand during the RT interval.
Ito
M
M
Motor Control and Learning Laboratory, Joetsu University of Education, Japan.
D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*