Change and Stop-signal paradigms with hands and feet

Change and Stop-signal paradigms with hands and feet

Hands and feet are useful in most sports but they are even more important when driving. The present study aims to find the time it takes to stop or switch a hand or foot movement. Researchers have noted that it takes longer to stop a hand than it does an eye, but little if any research has been done on foot movement. We are currently collecting data in the stop-signal paradigm in which subjects are to strike one of two keys when they see the corresponding visual stimulus unless an auditory signal is presented. Data are also being collected on the change task for hands where instead of stopping at an auditory signal, subjects are to switch their response. Future studies will repeat those paradigms using foot movements. We expect to find that switching takes longer since the participant is faced with not only inhibiting a response but making a different one as well. It is expected that reaction times are quicker for hand movements than feet for two reasons. First, the distance from the brain to the hand is shorter than from the brain to the foot. Second, subjects are likely to have more experience doing similar tasks with their hands. Results have implications for driving behavior especially when fast reaction time is crucial.