Abstract
The RT of 50 college men was measured under normal (N) and artificial (E) limb mass conditions. It was hypothesized that RT in condition E would be significantly faster than in N because the heavier mass would encourage a stronger conscious and willful intent, during the response foreperiod, to trigger the simple learned RT response stored in the memory motor drum. The results (t = 4.202, p < .05) substantiated this hypothesis. Even though the relationship of RTs in N and E conditions was moderately large (r = .56), the specificity was very high, 69%; thus the possibility that two separate neuromotor programs are involved cannot be excluded. It is concluded that in a simple RT experiment the creation of a situation during the response foreperiod which increases S's conscious and willful intent to respond, will result in a faster RT. Also, the results support the known specificity of individual differences in performance of simple discrete motor acts.
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