The Effect of Amplitude (Response Complexity) in Choice Reaction Time

Research has shown that reaction time (RT) increases as a function of elements and amplitude. Hence, this study aimed to investigate how invalid information regarding the numbers of elements and magnitude of movement influenced programming prior to movement initiation and during movement execution in choice RT. Twelve self-declared undergraduate students with right-handed performed a total of 150 trials of aiming movements with pen along the track way on Calcomp III digitizing tablet sample rate 200 Hz. The visual of the cursor displays on the computer monitor positioned straight in front of the participants. The participants were directed to move the cursor as quickly as possible in a continuous manner to the targets indicated by the four possible stimuli (i.e., 1S, 1L, 2S and 2L). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that RT was quicker in valid than in invalid conditions F = (3,33) = 13.390, p < 0.05. When early invalid information concerning the precue and stimulus was specified, RT and movement time increased as a function of elements and amplitude. These findings indicated that reprogramming occurred prior to movement initiation during RT. However, the time required to reprogrammed movements did not vary as a function of features of the response.