MEASUREMENT OF REACTION TIME IN OLDER ADULTS: NEED FOR TERMINOLOGICAL AGREEMENT

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Julia L Leon Rodriguez (Author) Other; Antonio O Ona Sicilia (Author) Other; Olga Vasconcelos (Author) FADEUP

Journal

Title: Revista de Psicologia del Deporte

Vol. 24

Pages: 351-359

ISSN: 1132-239X

Publisher: Universitat de les Illes Balears

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00G-FPE

Abstract (EN): Numerous studies have recently aimed to quantify and/or improve reaction time in elderly people. This variable is considered to be a biomarker of cognitive ageing, related to dementia and even mortality. However, the absence of a unified criterion regarding the term has led to incorrect use by several authors. For this reason, the aim of this review was to identify the most commonly used method to measure reaction time in studies with elderly people and to find out whether the term was used correctly. After checking Scopus, PubMed and PsycINFO databases (from January 2008 to June 2013), 84 original papers were included. The results showed that most studies used the simple reaction time test in which the participant was sitting with one upper limb lying on a button which s/he had to press upon detecting a visual stimulus. Terminological confusion was found in the literature regarding the term reaction time, owing to wrong measurement of this variable in most of the studies analysed, by including the movement time phase. In line with this, we consider it essential to raise awareness concerning the need to reach agreement on the term, which will favour progress in research on reaction time as a factor to prevent or reduce cognitive ageing.

Language: Spanish

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9