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Gap effect and reaction time distribution: simple vs choice manual responses
W Machado-Pinheiro1, L G Gawryszewski, L E Ribeiro-do-Valle
1Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brasil. mflwmp@vm.uff.br
Summary
The gap effect, a reduction in reaction time, was observed for manual reaction times (MRT). However, express manual responses were not detected, unlike in saccadic reaction times (SRT).
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human motor control
Background:
- The gap effect reduces saccadic reaction times (SRT) when a fixation point is removed before target appearance.
- The existence of express saccades linked to the gap effect is debated.
- It is unclear if the gap effect or express responses occur in manual reaction times (MRT).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of the gap effect in manual reaction times (MRT).
- To examine manual reaction time distributions for evidence of express manual responses.
Main Methods:
- Manual reaction times (MRT) were measured under simple and choice conditions.
- The gap effect was assessed by comparing reaction times with and without a fixation point offset.
- MRT distributions were analyzed to identify potential express responses.
Main Results:
- A significant gap effect was found for both choice MRT (22 ms) and simple MRT (15 ms).
- No clear evidence for express manual responses was observed in the MRT distributions.
- Simple MRT distributions were shifted towards shorter reaction times compared to choice MRT.
Conclusions:
- The gap effect is present in manual reaction times (MRT), similar to saccadic reaction times (SRT).
- Express manual responses, analogous to express saccades, were not detected in this study.
- Task complexity (simple vs. choice MRT) influences manual reaction time distributions.