Sensorimotor performance and limb preference

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine simple and choice fractionated reaction time components with respect to limb preference. Subjects (10 males, 10 females) participated in two experiments. The first experiment involved sensorimotor performance of the hands under four conditions of preferred only, nonpreferred only, bilateral simultaneous, and choice handgrip reaction time. The second experiment involved preferred and nonpreferred knee extension under the same conditions. Simple RT results indicated that performance task measures differed only for the preferred bilateral hand RT and corresponding premotor time. Under choice situations, the most rapid scores occurred with preferred unilateral reaction times due to briefer premotor times. The influence of the central, premotor component relative to simple and choice performance is discussed. Results are also presented with respect to male and female differences.