The Effect of Preparatory Movement on Reaction Time

Reaction time is a critical component of athletic performance and preparatory movements are believed to enhance response speed by priming the neuromuscular and cognitive systems. At elite levels, even fractions of a second can distinguish between success and failure. PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the effect of preparatory motion on reaction time. Specifically, the study compares the reaction times performing a standardized preparatory motion to those remaining static prior to stimulus onset. We hypothesize that participants using preparatory motion will react significantly faster than those in the static condition. METHODS: Sixteen participants (7 males, 9 females; mean age = 23.1 ± 10.9 years) completed two reaction time conditions: a preparatory movement condition and a non-preparatory control condition. Reaction times were measured in response to visual stimuli, with 10 trials per condition. RESULTS: Preparatory movement significantly reduced reaction time compared to the non-preparatory condition by 7.6% (0.342 ± 0.043 s vs. 0.368 ± 0.042 s; t(15) = 3.020, p = 0.009, Cohen’s d = 0.755). CONCLUSION: These findings support the notion that anticipatory motor actions enhance reaction efficiency and have practical implications for athletic training and performance optimization.