Correlation of Audio-Visual Reaction Time with Body Mass Index & Skin Fold Thickness Between Runners and Healthy...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Human Physiology
• Perception-Action Coupling

Background:

• Audio-visual reaction time is critical for daily activities like driving and high-level sports.
• Athletic performance is often linked to an individual's ability to react quickly to stimuli.
• Understanding factors influencing reaction time in athletes can inform training strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare audio-visual reaction time between national level runners and sedentary controls.
• To investigate the relationship between training duration and reaction time in runners.
• To explore correlations between Body Mass Index (BMI) and skin fold thickness with reaction time in athletes.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 31 national level runners and 31 age- and sex-matched controls.
• Runners were categorized into two groups based on training experience: Group A (>2 to <3 years) and Group B (>3 to <10 years).
• Audio-visual reaction time was measured, and correlations with BMI and skin fold thickness were analyzed.

Main Results:

• National level runners demonstrated significantly lower (p<0.05) audio-visual reaction times compared to controls.
• Group B runners (longer training duration) exhibited significantly faster reaction times than Group A.
• A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between BMI and reaction time in runners, particularly for green color stimuli. Skin fold thickness showed a non-significant negative correlation.

Conclusions:

• Extensive and regular training significantly improves audio-visual reaction time in athletes.
• Faster reaction times in elite runners suggest a direct benefit of consistent practice on perceptual-motor skills.
• These findings highlight the importance of reaction time as a performance determinant in sports and suggest potential avenues for training optimization.