Target-Size Influences on Reaction Time with Movement Time Controlled

Abstract

The variable that affect motor programming time may be studied by changing the nature of the response and measuring the subsequent changes in reaction time (RT). One notion of motor programming suggests that aiming responses with reduced target size and/or increased target amplitude require more "complex" motor programs that require longer RTs. In a series of five experiments which movement time (MT) was experimentally varied target size neither influences RT when the movement amplitude was 2 or 30 cm nor when the target sizes differed by as much as a factor of 16:1. Increasing the movement amplitude from 15 to 30 cm also had no influence on RT. Movement time, however, did affect RT, with 200-msec movements having longer RTs than 120-msec movements. Target size and movement amplitude did not appear to be factors that influence programming time or program complexity.

The effect of distance on reaction time in aiming movements

“…Klapp & Erwin (1976) found that RT was influenced by response duration such that an MT of 150, 300 and 600 ms produced RTs of 344, 382 and 442ms respectively, although increasing MT to 1200ms resulted in no further increase in RT (443ms). Rosenbaum & Patashnik (1980) and Quinn et al (1980) replicated the essence of this finding. These findings have led to the hypothesis that there is a fixed relationship between movement duration and reaction time (see Klapp 1996 for a review).…”

“…Christina 1992;Fischman 1984;Klapp & Erwin 1976;Rosenbaum & Patashnik 1980;Quinn et al 1980;Klapp 1996;Khan et al 2006).…”

“…The basic finding of longer RT with increased movement complexity has been replicated by a large number of authors (e.g. Christina 1992;Fischman 1984;Klapp & Erwin 1976;Rosenbaum & Patashnik 1980;Sidaway, Sekiya & Fairbrother 1995;Quinn et al 1980;Klapp 1996;Khan et al 2006) although there is some debate over the precise factors that define movement complexity. Sidaway, Sekiya & Fairbrother (1995) and Lajoie & Franks (1997) found that RT increased when the size of a second target decreased in a serial aiming response (where two targets are contacted in a fixed order).…”

Motor Programming Is Not the Only Process Which Can Influence RT

“…Quinn, Schmidt, Zelaznik, Hawkins, and McFarquhar (1980) noted that response duration and required accuracy were confounded in previous studies of target aiming (e.g., Klapp, 1975). They reported that accuracy did not influence choice RT if duration was controlled, but that duration influenced choice RT if required accuracy was controlled.…”

Binary Choice Reaction Time as a Function of the Relationship between Durations and Forms of Responses

“…By now there is a considerable amount of evidence showing that responses of longer duration tend to be associated with longer reaction times. This evidence comes mainly from key presses (e.g., Klapp, Wyatt, & Lingo, 1974;Klapp & Rodriguez, 1982) and fast aiming movements (Klapp & Greim, 1979;Quinn, Schmidt, Zelaznik, Hawkins, & McFarquhar, 1980). At least in fast aiming movements, velocity seems to be the relevant variable instead of duration (Falkenberg & Newell, 1980).…”