Abstract
Total body reaction time in response to the stimuli demanding different directions of movement has been studied by various authors. However, a study on the effects of more complex stimuli demanding the combinations of both directions and distances of movement has not yet been made. The present investigation was designed to examine total body reaction time of movement elicited by the selective stimuli demanding different distances and directions. "Body Reaction Timer" distributed by Takei Equipment Company was utilized to measure total body reaction time of 32 male and 30 female college athletes. The experimental conditions demanded by the stimuli were the combinations of four directions (front, back, left, and right) and three distances (25, 45, and 60 cm). The subjects performed 24 trials (two trials under each experimental condition). Application of analysis of variance, Tukey method of multiple comparisons and correlation method revealed the following results: 1) In every direction and distance, the reaction time of the male subjects was faster than that of the female subjects. 2) In all directions, the slowest reaction time was recorded when the demanded direction was frontward. The next slowest record was found in backward direction. For the condition of 60 cm distance, the stimuli demanding leftward direction elicited the fastest reaction time. The next fastest time was recorded for the rightward direction. The trend was consistent for both sexes. 3) In the male subjects, the coefficients of correlation between the reaction times for the different distances were higher when the matched distances were closer. The female subjects did not show the same trend. 4) F-ratio among the directions was significant in all the distances for the female subjects. For the male subjects, however, F-ratio for the condition of 45cm distance was not significant.
