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Relationship between inertial features of the upper extremity and simple reaction time in boys and girls aged 17–18

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Abstract

The latent period of visual sensor-motor reaction depends, in part, on the sensory and integrative processes in the brain, but is also influenced by the rate of the muscle contraction. There is no clear evidence in the literature whether the rotational inertia of segments of limbs has any direct effect on the reaction time. The aim of our study was to identify this relationship. The study involved 566 right handed students aged 16–17 of both genders beginning their post puberty period. Reaction time was measured during experimental adduction of the forearm and hand, using a special rotating handle and lever connected to a computer that recorded the reaction time (±1 ms). Calculations of the rotational inertia were carried out using regression models by Zatsiorsky and other authors. Each gender group was divided into three subgroups: with high, medium and low values of rotational inertia. It was found that individuals with high values of rotational inertia of forearm and wrist demonstrated significantly longer reaction times. This pattern was apparent in both gender groups. Although males illustrated greater values of rotational inertia than females they demonstrated relatively shorter reaction times. This contradiction can be explained by greater muscle power of young men. We recommend taking into account the amount of rotational inertia of the responsive segment in all kinds of research which require measurement of reaction time.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia

    B. I. Gutnik

  2. Research Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

    N. B. Pankova & M. Yu. Karganov

  3. UNITEC Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

    D. Nash

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  1. B. I. Gutnik
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  2. N. B. Pankova
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  3. M. Yu. Karganov
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  4. D. Nash
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Published in Russian in Fiziologiya Cheloveka, 2014, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 22–30.

The article was translated by the authors.

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Gutnik, B.I., Pankova, N.B., Karganov, M.Y. et al. Relationship between inertial features of the upper extremity and simple reaction time in boys and girls aged 17–18. Hum Physiol 40, 132–139 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119714020078

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