The Effect of Training Sequence on the Transfer of Learning between Dissimilar Limbs in the Choice Reaction Time Task

Purpose and Research field:

 Investigating bilateral transfer has drawn considerable attention among researchers studying motor control for a long time. However, the fact that bilateral transfer can also be seen in a reaction time task is an issue that has not been addressed. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the bilateral transfer in a choice reaction time (CRT) task.

The present research was a semi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. Participants were randomly divided into three groups of 15 individuals (training by hands, training by legs, and control groups). Participants in the experimental groups practiced the choice reaction time task in three sessions (during a week), and each session consisted of three blocks of 25 trials. To evaluate CRT, the RT-888 device was used. The Edinburgh questionnaire was also utilized to determine the participants’ dominant hands and legs. Data were analyzed using an independent samples t-test and multivariate analysis of variance at a significance level of p < 0.05.

The results showed a significant difference between the experimental and the control groups. The groups training with hands (hands P = 0/001, legs P = 0/001) and legs (hands P = 0/001, legs P = 0/005) showed significantly shorter CRTs compared to the control group. Moreover, the CRT significantly decreased in the post-test in both experimental groups.

The effect of practice on reaction time could transfer through limbs, despite their anatomical differences.