Examination of the Reaction Time based on Gender

The current study aimed at comparing the impact of gender towards visual reaction time among 160 individuals in the age bracket between 17 and 58 years old. There were 81 females and 79 males. They participated in the exercise without any form of coercion as their consent was sought before the commencement of the activity. They were subjected to the red and blue color stimuli where they were supposed to tap the space bar on the appearance of blue and remain unresponsive on the red color. Each respondent was tested independently, and the reaction times were taken. Inquisit 4.0 software was applied during the exercise, and five readings were taken on each participant where the lowest reaction time was recorded. The results gave a clear outlook of the contribution of gender to the overall visual reaction time to arrive at a reliable and unbiased conclusion. The results indicated that the male were slower and less accurate than the females as they took more time to react to the colors appropriately. The results were then statistically analyzed through the mean and standard deviation to further compare the obtained information. Markedly, to back the conclusion of the results, cognitive, visual and physical attributes in the females were taken into consideration. Also, their high levels of accuracy as compared to that of the males were viewed as part of the factors that directly backed the conclusions. Furthermore, it was concluded that training and exercises directly contributed to the long-term reduction of the reaction time among the male and female as long as they committed themselves towards realizing the change and improvement they desired when exposed to different types of stimuli in different environments. 

Examination of the Reaction Time based on Gender 

People react differently when subjected to different forms of stimuli. The duration between the presentation of the incentives and the reaction of the individual in question is referred to as reaction time. There are three significant types of reaction times which are: simple reaction time, recognition reaction time, and choice recognition time. Simple reaction time entails a single stimulus and response. Recognition reaction time involves more than one stimulus where the respondent is supposed to react to one and ignore the other depending on the instructions set during the experiment. In this case, some of the stimuli do not require any response. Choice reaction time constitutes of several stimuli and several reactions in line with the set instruction requirements (Jyothi et al., 2016). Thus, the respondents base their reactions on the requirements of the studies in question. 

Human reaction time is based on the operation of the nervous system when it identifies the stimulus. The nervous system is made up of neurons that pass the information about the stimulus to the brain, which determines the reaction of the other body parts such as the hands (Kenward et al., 2017). The rate of response of the brain in the presence of the stimulus determines reaction speed. Reaction time is determined by factors like; intelligence, personality type, fatigue, breathing cycle, exercise, practice, age, and gender (Jyothi et al., 2016). The current study is aimed at determining the contribution of gender towards the reaction time of an individual when subjected to different forms of stimuli. 

Additionally, Saravanan, Anu, and Kumar (2018) documented that gender plays a significant role in the reaction time. The strength of the male is the driving force behind their speedy reaction. Similarly , Panachakel et al. (2019) agree with these sentiments as they note that males have more significant potential of fast and reduced reaction times as compared to the female. Their advantage is attributed to their better cerebral abilities. They have a higher capacity to identify colors as compared to the female. Equally, Blackwell et al. (2020) in their study, they found out that males and females have different capabilities when they react to stimuli. Depending on the speed of the receptors and the interpretation of the stimuli, they realized that men have a better ability than the female and as such, they have a slower reaction time as compared to the female. 

One study that stood out, and was contrary to the rest, was that of Woods et al. (2015) which recorded that the females have shorter reaction times than that of the male. Their accuracy and ability to process and interpret the messages depicted by the stimuli were noticed in this study as they outdid the male in their actions. Therefore, this study proved that the males were not dominant in their reaction time as the female had the capability of outperforming them in the speed of their reaction to some visual stimuli like color. The current study is aimed at adding to the available literature on the effects of gender on the extent of the reaction time in the presence of different stimuli. 

Materials and Methodologies 

One hundred sixty individuals participated in this experiment. They were selected based on their willingness to participate in the whole exercise. There were 81 females and 79 male participants. Their ages were between 17 and 58 years. Their health statuses were taken into consideration as the experiment aimed at providing conclusions based on healthy youth and adults. Those excluded from participating in the exercise entailed individuals with visual health conditions, with respiratory issues, those under the influence of drugs, and those under medication whose side effects would directly impact on their participation in the study. These exclusions were made to enhance the reliability and credibility of the results as they would be free from any form of bias or influence. Written consent was obtained from all the participants who had agreed to take part in the exercise. 

The procedure of the determination of the visual reaction time involved the use of Inquisit 4.0 computer software. The respondents were supposed to react to the blue color and ignore the red one. The Red color was meant to test their accuracy during the exercise. The colors were displayed randomly on a white screen that the respondents were to concentrate on. Therefore, the target stimulus, in this case, was the blue color. The respondents were supposed to react by pressing the space bar as soon as the blue color was displayed on the screen. The exercise would be repeated five times after which the highest and fastest reaction time would be recorded. Before embarking on the whole exercise, the respondents were acquainted with the entire procedure as they were placed under trial. The trial gave them an idea of what they would expect in the experiment. They got the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification with regard to the exercise to engage in the right actions based on the instructions. Markedly, they were well prepared to participate. The readings of the reaction time and the results were taken from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. A comparison of the results was made based on the gender of the respondents, after which the data was analyzed. The data was statistically analyzed through mean and standard deviation, after which the conclusions were arrived at. 

Results  

The Visual reaction time results were represented in tables as shown below: 

Male and Female Mean on Simple Visual Reaction Time and Choice Visual Reaction Time 

Table 1 

Gender	Simple Visual Reaction Time	Choice Visual Reaction Time
Female	0.694086	0.619852
Male	0.832519	0.500962

Mean in Time in the Experiment 

Table 2 

Gender	Mean
Male	318.51603
Female	342.348296

Standard Deviation 

Standard Deviation in the Overall Time in the Experiment 

Table 3 

Gender	Standard deviation
Female	222.237241
Male	226.28127

The Male and Female Standard Deviation for Simple Visual reaction Time and Choice Visual Reaction Time 

Table 4 

Gender	Simple Visual reaction Time	Choice Visual Reaction Time
Female	0.917079	0.838978
Male	0.992508	0.2210023

The females have a lower standard deviation than the male in the simple visual reaction time. On the other hand, the females have a higher standard deviation than that of the male in the choice visual reaction time. Therefore, their reaction times are close together and near their mean in the simple visual reaction time, while those of the male are scattered away from their average reaction time. On the contrary, the higher standard deviation in choice visual reaction time depicts scattered reactions times on the female. In this case, the male reaction times are concentrated around their average figures. 

Discussion  

Reaction time defines the speed of central information processing alongside the rate of coordinated peripheral movement. The behavioral responses, like reaction time, depict individual cognitive processes. These reaction times are applicable in various fields in real life. For instance, in this case, the visual reaction time is based on the choice response whereby the respondents are required to react to some stimuli and remain unresponsive to the others. Situations like driving vehicles require such reactions, and as such the speed at which they respond to the available stimuli determines their competence and experience. Visual choice reaction time improves with experience and the amount of stored information about the stimuli in question. The gender reaction time difference is attributed to the rate of muscle contraction. Based on past studies, muscle contraction duration is similar in both genders. Initially, the rate of reaction was faster in male but presently, the females have bridged this gap. They engage in the activities that were dominated by the male such as driving and hence, they continuously enhance their reaction time when presented with different stimuli. 

The results depict that the females are faster than males. They are in line with studies that describe that females are quick in performing timed tasks. The experiment is indirectly timed as it requires the respondents to react as first as possible to the presented stimuli. Therefore, the females are advantaged as they can easily handle the situation as they cognitively process their reaction to the colors in the shortest time possible. They have their minds set towards meeting the visual and motor requirements within the least time possible. 

Based on the results, the age of the participants also contributed to their reaction speed. For instance, the aged males recorded increased reaction time as compared to old females and young males. According to Woods et al. (2015) women are more accurate than men. The results of their actions are linked with the speed of their response to stimuli. In this case, the females are careful not to tap the space bar before the appearance of the blue color and as such, they are not victims of error tapping. Their accuracy is associated with reduced reaction time as they do not have to process their responses after an incorrect response. In the end, they record shorter reaction time than the males. 

Past studies indicate that males are faster than females in their reactions. Their speed is affected by their inaccuracies as they tap on the space bar at the wrong stimuli. As they process on their next move, their reaction time increases and hence is more than that of the females as they tend to be more accurate as they make their calculative responses. In this current study, the female depicts high hand to eye coordination as they can process the color that requires them to be responsive and the one that calls for unresponsiveness (Woods et al., 2015). Even though men are great in perceiving and interpreting moving objects, it does not guarantee that they are high in identifying and acting instantly based on the color instructions. 

The rate of reaction depends on the mental practice that the individuals are subjected to as they engage in the specific alternatives. The mental picture psychologically prepares the individuals on how and when to react when the stimuli are presented. In this case, the females have depicted a higher potential of keeping the mental image of the frequency of the colors and their respective responses. With continuous practice and experience, they eventually increase the pace at which they react (Okubo, Schoene & Lord, 2017). Markedly, this reduces their reaction time, and hence they outdo their male counterparts. The reason behind the improvement is the fact that the reactions start from the brain and the faster the brain processes the stimuli, the less the reaction time and vice versa (Hedge et al., 2018). Based on this study, the female brain tends to process the information about the stimuli faster than that of the male and thus, this is passed to their actions. Markedly, the combination of practice and brain ability constitutes automatic reduced reaction time among the female. 

The findings of the current study are contrary to Panachakel et al. (2019), Blackwell et al. (2020), and Saravanan, Anu and Kumar (2018) as these studies emphasize the strength of the male and not the female. These studies recorded that the males were faster than the women in different stimuli. The findings were in line with those of Woods et al. (2015) that indicated that the female had a slower reaction time than the male. 

Conclusion  

Visual information is crucial in the daily operations of the humans. The connection of the eyes and the brain determines the reaction of the other parts of the body with the available stimuli. Based on the above study, the females have better reaction speed than the men as their reaction time is shorter. However, some studies depict the opposite as men portray reduced reaction time in some cognitive activities. Therefore, reaction time is not limited to the gender of an individual as other factors are taken into consideration. For instance, the extent of the practice of the people in question regardless of their gender has a significant impact on the reduction of their reaction time. Increased training increases the extent to which individuals react automatically to the present stimuli. Naturally, men are considered more powerful and masculine, and thus, it is expected that their reaction time should be lower than that of the female. However, the females are more accurate than the male and this plays a vital role in reducing their reaction time as they make the right choices with regards to the available stimuli. The inaccurate reactions of the male cost them their reaction time as they dwell on rectifying and channeling their brain to process the right responses to the available stimuli. Both accuracy and speed of the reaction can be increased through continuous practice on both genders. The reduction of the reaction time in the presence of different stimuli is applicable in real life as it plays an essential role in various activities. Short reaction time, coupled with accuracy, is helpful as it enhances human welfare in cases like car driving. In this case, the visual and color attributes play remarkable roles as the drivers act fast in the face of danger which safes both their lives and those of the third parties. Therefore, from these study findings, female’s reduced reaction time and accuracy make them better drivers as compared to the male. 

References  

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