Reaction times to stimuli vary depending on the phase of the cardiac cycle, being slower during the second phase of the R-R interval.
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Cardiac cycle may subtly affect reaction timing in lab tasks; leaves open any clinical relevance or mechanisms.
The EKG was recorded while Ss differentially responded to auditory or visual stimuli in a reaction time task. The EKG record was analyzed by dividing each R-R interval encompassing a stimulus presentation into 9 equal phases. Reaction times were determined as a function of the phase encompassing stimulus onset while movement times were determined for the phase in which the response was initiated. Only reaction time significantly varied with cardiac cycle, with reactions during the second phase being slower than later phases.
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Saari et al. (1976) studied this question.
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