Postcontraction Influences on Reaction Time

• Published in: Research quarterly for exercise and sport Vol. 73; no. 3; pp. 271 - 281
• Main Authors: Etnyre, Bruce, Kinugasa, Takashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Group 01.09.2002; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; aftereffects; Anatomy; Electrical equipment; Electromyography; Feedback (Response); fractionated reaction time; Humans; Information Processing; Inhibition; Male; Muscle Contraction; Muscular system; Reaction Time; Reaction Time - physiology; Response time; Scientific Research
• ISSN: 0270-1367; 2168-3824
• DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2002.10609020

The purpose of this study was to compare reaction time (RT) and fractionated RT components (premotor and motor times) between normal and postcontraction conditions. Twelve participants performed 20 trials each of control and postcontraction RT conditions. For the control condition, participants executed a learned, rapid, knee-extension contraction response to an auditory stimulus. The postcontraction condition was identical to the control condition except that the participants performed a 3-s isometric contraction of the knee extensor muscles prior to an auditory stimulus. Muscle activity was recorded from the quadriceps muscle group. Results indicated that the postcontraction condition was significantly faster than the control condition for the average RT, premotor time, and motor time. It was concluded that reaction time, processing time, and muscle contraction time for a learned task could be significantly reduced following an isometric contraction.