Reaction Time and Intent to Respond

Abstract

It is suggested that increases in muscle tension may have occurred just prior to the initiation of the response under conditions of artificially increased mass and that these may have contributed to Whitley's (1966) finding of significantly faster RT under this condition. Following brief discussion of variation in intent to move more or less strongly, it is postulated that the exertion of near maximum voluntary contraction of the prime movers in the initiation of a movement would decrease the RT and that such RT would correlate positively with movement time.