Investigating the Role of Feedback and Motivation in Clinical Reaction Time Assessment

ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of performance feedback and motivation during 2 tests of simple visuomotor reaction time (RT).DesignCross-sectional, observational study.SettingOutpatient academic physiatry clinic.ParticipantsThirty-one healthy adults (mean [SD], 54 ± 15 years).MethodsParticipants completed a clinical test of RT (RTclin) and a computerized test of RT with and without performance feedback (RTcompFB and RTcompNoFB, respectively) in randomly assigned order. They then ranked their degree of motivation during each test. RTclin measured the time required to catch a suspended vertical shaft by hand closure after release of the shaft by the examiner. RTcompFB and RTcompNoFB both measured the time required to press a computer key in response to a visual cue displayed on a computer monitor. Performance feedback (visual display of the previous trial and summary results) was provided for RTcompFB, but not for RTcompNoFB.Main Outcome MeasurementsMeans and standard deviations of RTclin, RTcompFB, and RTcompNoFB and participants' self-reported motivation on a 5-point Likert scale for each test.ResultsThere were significant differences in both the means and standard deviations of RTclin, RTcompFB, and RTcompNoFB (F2,60 = 81.66, P < .0001; F2,60 = 32.46, P < .0001, respectively), with RTclin being both the fastest and least variable of the RT measurements. RTclin was more strongly correlated with RTcompFB (r = 0.449, P = .0011) than with RTcompNoFB (r = 0.314, P = .086). The participants reported similar levels of motivation between RTclin and RTcompFB, both of which were reported to be more motivating than RTcompNoFB.ConclusionsThe stronger correlation between RTclin and RTcompFB as well as the higher reported motivation during RTclin and RTcompFB testing suggest that performance feedback is a positive motivating factor that is inherent to RTclin testing. RTclin is a simple, inexpensive technique for measuring RT and appears to be an intrinsically motivating task. This motivation may promote faster, more consistent RT performance compared with currently available computerized programs, which do not typically provide performance feedback.