Supra-maximal effort and reaction and movement times in a non-compatible response time task.
OBJECTIVE
The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effect of attempting to exercise supra-maximally on reaction time and movement time in a non-compatible response time task.


METHODS
Subjects (n=9) undertook a 4-choice non-compatible response time test at rest, while cycling at 70 rpm with a resistance of 35 W (low intensity exercise), cycling at 70% of their maximum power output (MPO), cycling at 100% MPO and attempting to cycle at 70 rpm, with a resistance that was 28 W greater than the resistance required to elicit MPO (supra-maximal effort).


RESULTS
Reaction time, movement time, intra-individual variations in reaction time and movement time at each exercise intensity were compared by a series of repeated measures analyses of variance. A significant effect of exercise was shown for movement time, F(4,32)=6.05, p<0.001, eta2=0.44, Power=0.97 and intra-individual variation in reaction time, F(4,32)=4.98, p<0.005, eta2=0.38, Power=0.93. For movement time, Tukey post-hoc tests showed that performance at rest was significantly slower than that during exercise at 70%, 100% MPO and supra-maximal effort. Performance at low intensity exercise was significantly slower than that at MPO. For intra-individual variations in reaction time, Tukey tests found that variations under supra-maximal effort and MPO were significantly greater than those at low intensity and 70% MPO.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that exercise facilitates speed of movement when the limbs used for the motor task are not the ones that are being exercised. Reaction time during maximal and supra-maximal exercise demonstrates large intra-individual variations.
McMorris
T
T
Centre for Sports Science and Medicine, University College Chichester, West Sussex, UK. T.McMorris@ucc.ac.uk
Hill
C
C
Sproule
J
J
Potter
J
J
Swain
J
J
Hobson
G
G
Holder
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*