Word count (no titles/figure legends):656
Results:
, Discussion
Q.1
This experiment demonstrated (figure 1) that average reflex time (M=0.02401s) is less than average
reaction time (M=0.2027, p < 0.0001). The reaction pathway is longer than the reflex pathway. The
reaction pathway involves the brain registering the stimulus (hammer), then interpreting and
processing that information in the brain and sending signals to the effector muscles to react (button
press). The reflex pathway detects a stimulus and synapses straight to the spine (afferent pathway),
then sends signals via the efferent pathway to the effector muscles to contract.
Figure 2A demonstrates average reaction time with distraction (M=0.3225) is considerably longer
than without (M=0.2027, p = 0.0020). As the reaction pathway involves complex cortical processing,
mental distraction acts as cortical interference. However, average reflex time (M=0.0202) is non-
significant compared with and without distraction (p= 0.9149 (Jendrassik), p = 0.6601 (mental),
Results:
, Discussion
Q.1
This experiment demonstrated (figure 1) that average reflex time (M=0.02401s) is less than average
reaction time (M=0.2027, p < 0.0001). The reaction pathway is longer than the reflex pathway. The
reaction pathway involves the brain registering the stimulus (hammer), then interpreting and
processing that information in the brain and sending signals to the effector muscles to react (button
press). The reflex pathway detects a stimulus and synapses straight to the spine (afferent pathway),
then sends signals via the efferent pathway to the effector muscles to contract.
Figure 2A demonstrates average reaction time with distraction (M=0.3225) is considerably longer
than without (M=0.2027, p = 0.0020). As the reaction pathway involves complex cortical processing,
mental distraction acts as cortical interference. However, average reflex time (M=0.0202) is non-
significant compared with and without distraction (p= 0.9149 (Jendrassik), p = 0.6601 (mental),
