Effects of electromyographic biofeedback on reaction time and movement time

The effects of electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback on reaction time (RT) and movement time (MT) were investigated utilizing 42 right-handed, male subjects from a university population. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups, a control group and two experimental groups. Both experimental groups were exposed to their EMG signals from their triceps brachii during the task, one experimental group received written information explaining the purpose of the EMG was to improve performance through biofeedback. Reaction times of the first block of 25 trials were significantly faster than those on the subsequent three blocks of trials for all groups. This provided evidence of learning. No other significant effects for reaction times were observed. Mean movement time for the EMG-only group was significantly slower than the means of either the Control group or EMG-Biofeedback group, with no difference between the latter two. The differences between experimental groups may have been related to alteration of strategy, anxiety, motivation.