Perception time and reaction time

Two experiments were performed in order to examine the possible contribution of visual perception time in motor response time under conditions of pursuit eye movements. Subjects had to follow with their eyes a light spot moving horizontally along a reference scale at a constant velocity of 14 degrees/s. Stimuli (the disappearance of the moving spot) were presented randomly at distances of 11.3, 17.7 and 24.2 angular degrees from the onset of motion. In Experiment 1 subjects had to report verbally the scale division at which the stimuli were presented. In Experiment 2 subjects had to press a button as quickly as possible after stimulus presentation. No relationship between visual perception time and motor reaction time was found.