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Many experiments have been done to see how quickly a person can respond to a stimulus. For example, how much time passes between the moment a driver sees the brake lights of the car ahead come on, and the moment he slams on the brakes? Some of the results are curious: if you are right-handed, you can respond with your right hand about 3% faster than with your left – and conversely for a left-handed person. Responding with the feet takes about 20% longer than responding with the hands.
The most important experimental result is one everyone knows: past the age of 40 reaction time increases. Notice, however, that 30-year-olds react faster than 20-year-olds. The table below compares reaction times to a stimulus that is seen (a light coming on) and one that is heard (a buzzer).
| age (years) |
females | males | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| stimulus seen | stimulus heard | stimulus seen | stimulus heard | |
| 20 | 320 | 310 | 240 | 230 |
| 30 | 260 | 200 | 220 | 190 |
| 40 | 340 | 300 | 260 | 240 |
| 50 | 360 | 300 | 270 | 250 |
| 60 | 440 | 420 | 380 | 370 |
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Last revised: 7 June 2004.