Relationship between Cortical Excitability and Complex Reaction Time

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this investigation was to investigate the relationships between cortical excitability and complex reaction times (RT).To carry out this study, we performed transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to test cortical excitability and the Posner paradigm to investigate the RT and errors. Investigation of motor cortex excitability and reaction time. Methods: Twenty male right-handed participants were chosen for this investigation (Age: 23.5±2.1 years; Height 177.1±2.8 cm; Body mass 73.2±3.3 Kg). Results: A significant positive correlation emerged between resting motor threshold (rMT) and RT and between motor evoked potential (MEP) latency and RT(p<0.001). The results also show a significant positive correlation (p<0.001) between rMT and the percentage of errors and a significant positive correlation (p<0.05) between MEP latency (ms) and the percentage of errors. The main results of the study showed that subjects who showed lower motor activation thresholds were able to respond faster and they also showed a significantly lower error rate compared to subjects who showed higher motor activation thresholds. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, our study seems to confirm the presence of a relationship between neuro-physiological parameters (MEP latency and rMT), RT and percentage of correct answers.