Abstract
[Purpose] To analyze the influences of the stepping direction and cognitive loading on the simple (SRT) and choice (CRT) reaction times. [Subjects and Methods] Measurement was performed, involving 16 healthy young adults to perform the following tasks: single tasks (STs): SRT: responding to a visual stimulus by stepping in a given direction using a given leg; 2CRT: choosing the stepping leg (left/right); and 6CRT: choosing the stepping leg (left/right) and direction; and dual-tasks (DTs): subtraction was added to each ST. Thus, there were a total of 6 tasks, and the reaction time (RT) and rate of change during each task were analyzed. [Results] Among the STs, SRT prolonged the RT the most significantly, followed by 2CRT and 6CRT in this order. The prolongation was particularly marked during the DTs. On analyzing the rate of ST-DT change when side-stepping, there was a significant difference between SRT and 6CRT. [Conclusion] The RT was suggested to be prolonged by the complication of the information processing process.
