Response training shortens visuo-motor related time in athletes

In the present study, we aimed to determine whether response training shortens visuo-motor related time in athletes performing a simple reaction task. 14 healthy male athletes were included in the study. Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups: a training group, which underwent response training consisting of a mastication task in response to a visual signal, and a non-training (control) group, which did not undergo response training. Pre-motor time and transcranial magnetic stimulation over the primary motor cortex for recording motor evoked potentials were measured in the control group, and before and after the response training session in the training group. Both pre-motor time and visuo-motor related time, but not motor evoked potential latency, were significantly reduced after response training in the training group. Subjects who had a longer visuo-motor related time before training showed a greater reduction in visuo-motor related time after training. These results suggest that visuo-motor related time before training could be useful as a predictor of the reduction in reaction time following response training.