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A solution for measuring accurate reaction time to visual stimuli realized with a programmable microcontroller
Toshio Ohyanagi1, Yasuhito Sengoku
1Center for Medical Education, Sapporo Medical University, South 1 West 17, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Japan. ohyanagi@sapmed.ac.jp
Behavior Research Methods
|February 18, 2010
Summary
A new USB device, the Solution for Measuring Accurate Reaction Time (SMART), precisely measures reaction time (RT) to visual stimuli. It offers a reliable and practical tool for researchers and clinicians, with minimal timing error across various systems.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Accurate measurement of reaction time (RT) is crucial for cognitive research and clinical assessments.
- Existing methods for RT measurement can be susceptible to system variability, impacting data reliability.
- There is a need for a precise, user-friendly, and adaptable RT measurement solution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate a novel USB device, the Solution for Measuring Accurate Reaction Time (SMART), for precise RT measurement.
- To evaluate the SMART's timing accuracy, reliability, and performance across different hardware and software configurations.
- To assess the practical utility of the SMART in diverse research and clinical settings.
Main Methods:
- The SMART device utilizes a Cypress Programmable System-on-Chip (PSoC) microcontroller for hardware and firmware implementation.
- Experiment 1 assessed timing accuracy (less than 2 msec error) and system tolerance (OS, display type) of the SMART.
- Experiments 2 and 3 validated RT measurements with human participants and presentation software (MS PowerPoint), comparing DirectX and PowerPoint file outputs.
Main Results:
- The SMART demonstrated high timing accuracy, with average errors under 2 msec across different operating systems and display types (CRT, LCD).
- No significant differences in reaction times were observed across various operating systems and display configurations.
- Reaction times measured using the SMART with MS PowerPoint were comparable to those obtained with MS DirectX technology.
Conclusions:
- The SMART is a simple, practical, and accurate solution for measuring reaction time to visual stimuli.
- The device exhibits tolerance to system jitter and noise, ensuring reliable measurements.
- The SMART offers researchers and clinicians new possibilities for utilizing RT paradigms in diverse work environments.
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