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AS Level Sport and Physical Education Reaction / Response Times. Contents. 3 - REACTION TIME MOVEMENT / RESPONSE TIME 4 - REACTION TIME SIMPLE / CHOICE REACTION TIME / HICK’S LAW 5 - PSYCHOLOGICAL REFRACTORY PERIOD 6 - FACTORS AFFECTING REACTION TIME
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AS Level Sport and Physical Education Reaction / Response Times
Contents 3 - REACTION TIME MOVEMENT / RESPONSE TIME 4 - REACTION TIME SIMPLE / CHOICE REACTION TIME / HICK’S LAW 5 - PSYCHOLOGICAL REFRACTORY PERIOD 6 - FACTORS AFFECTING REACTION TIME AGE / GENDER / AROUSAL / ANTICIPATION 7 - THE ROLE OF ANTICIPATION 8 - IMPROVING RESPONSE TIMES CUES / DECISION MAKING / ATTENTIONAL FOCUS
REACTION TIME Reaction time is the speed at which we are able to process information and make decisions. Being able to respond quickly is very important in many sports and often determines if we are successful. Reaction time is defined as the time between the onset of the stimulus and the start of the movement response to it. In the sprint start, reaction time is the time from the gun going off to the sprinter putting pressure on the starting block. CAN YOU GIVE ANOTHER SPORTING EXAMPLE OF REACTION TIME????
REACTION TIME • There are two other components connected with • performing movements quickly: • MOVEMENT TIME • This is the time it takes from first starting the movement to • completing it. In the sprint start it is represented by the time • from the sprinter first pressing on their blocks to when they cross • the finish line • 2. RESPONSE TIME • This is the time from the onset of the stimulus to the completion • of the movement. It is the total time, adding reaction time to • movement time. For example, it is the time from the gun going • off to the sprinter crossing the finishing line.
Movement time Reaction time Response time Response time = reaction time + movement time Can you give an example in sport for each of above?
REACTION TIME • SIMPLE REACTION TIME • is relevant to a single stimulus and a single possible response • CHOICE REACTION TIME • several stimuli are given but only one • must be selected for response • The more choices a person has, the • more information needs processing, and • the longer it takes to process, a slower • reaction time is recorded! • this is Hick’s Law - see graph
PSYCHOLOGICAL REFRACTORY PERIOD • PSYCHOLOGICAL REFRACTORY PERIOD (PRP) • presentation of a second stimulus • will slow down the processing of information • causing a time lag (this is the PRP) between the relevant stimulus and an appropriate response • example : selling a dummy in Rugby • EXAMPLE • S1 (1st stimulus) would be the dummy • S2 (2nd stimulus) would be the definite move • if the dummy (S1) had been the only stimulus then the reaction would have been at time R1 • in the meantime, S2 has happened, but the performer cannot begin his / her response to this until the full reaction R1 has been processed by the brain • so there is therefore a period of time (the PRP) after S2 but before the time break to R2 can begin • a person who can do a multiple dummy / shimmy (Mat Dawson / Jason Robinson) can leave opposition with no time to react and hence miss a tackle
FACTORS WHICH AFFECT REACTION TIME There are several factors that affect reaction time: WHAT ARE THESE?
FACTORS AFFECTING REACTION TIME • FACTORS AFFECTING REACTION TIME • AGE • the older we get, the slower our reaction times • GENDER • males have quicker reaction times than females • but reaction times reduce less with age for females • increase in STIMULUS INTENSITY will improve reaction time • a louder bang will initiate the go more quickly than a less loud bang • TALL PEOPLE will have slower reactions than short people because of the greater distance the information has to travel from the performer’s brain to the active muscles • short sprinters tend to win 60m races • AROUSAL LEVELS affect reaction times which are best when the performer is alert but not over aroused • SENSORY SYSTEM receiving the stimulus • factors like body language / position might give a cue which enables the performer to ANTICIPATE a stimulus • ANTICIPATION of an opponents play by identifying favourite strokes or positions, particularly if the play involves an attempted dummy or fake
REACTION TIME Reaction Time (ms)
How can we improve response/reaction time Discuss with the person next to you methods of how a coach could improve reaction time? PRACTICE – The more often a stimulus is responded to the shorter the reaction time becomes, if enough practice is done the response becomes automatic MENTAL REHEARSAL – Going over responses in your mind CONCENTRATION – Ignoring irrelevant signals EXPERIENCE – awareness of regular activity ANTICIPATION – initiating movement (close to experience)
THE ROLE OF ANTICIPATION • ANTICIPATION • the ability to predict future events from early signals or past events • reaction time can be speeded up if the performer learns to anticipate certain actions, good performers start running motor programmes before the stimulus is fully recognised they anticipate the strength, speed and direction of a stimulus. This would enable a performer to partially eliminate the PRP (psychological refractory period) • however, opponents will also be trying to anticipate • Opponents reaction times can be increased by increasing the number of choices of stimulus they have increasing the number of fakes or dummies (Dawson / Robinson)