Reaction times can reflect habits rather than computations

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Motor Control
• Human Factors

Background:

• Reaction times (RTs) are traditionally viewed as direct measures of cognitive processing and action preparation.
• Emerging evidence suggests RTs can be modulated by factors beyond computational demands, as movements can initiate earlier without performance deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of prior experience on reaction times (RTs).
• To determine if RTs are solely dictated by computational requirements or can be independently modulated.

Main Methods:

• Experimental manipulation of task demands to establish specific RT requirements.
• Kinematic analysis of movement execution following prior task exposure.

Main Results:

• Prior task experience significantly biased subsequent reaction times (RTs).
• These RT biases occurred independently of changes in the underlying computational processes for action.
• The observed effects are analogous to use-dependent biases in movement parameters like speed and direction.

Conclusions:

• Reaction times (RTs) are not exclusively determined by cognitive computation.
• RTs represent an independent motor parameter susceptible to habitual setting through prior experience.
• This finding challenges the traditional view of RTs as a pure measure of cognitive load.