RU2369326C1 - Method of evaluating time of human reaction on moving object - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: circumference with mark on it and point object moving on circumference with set rate are shown on videomonitor screen. At the moment of supposed coincidence of point object position with mark tested person stops movement of point object on circumference pressing "Stop" button. At this moment error of non-coincidence of point object and mark is calculated - time of lag error with positive sign or forestalling error with negative sign, and after set time movement of point object on circumference is recommenced. Described procedure is repeated determined number of times, after which time of person's reaction on moving object T_p is calculated by formula:

where t_i - i-th lag error with positive sign or forestalling error with negative sign, msec; n is number of point object stops in region of mark location.

EFFECT: method allows to increase reliability of reaction time.

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Description

The invention relates to medicine and is intended to evaluate the time of a person’s reaction to a moving object.

One of the methods for increasing the reliability and effectiveness of a person’s professional activity is the diagnosis and prediction of his functional state. A simple and fairly accurate psychophysiological indicator of a functional state is the reaction time to a moving object [1]. At the same time, the reaction to a moving object is a complex spatio-temporal reflex and is used as a test to determine the level of relationship between the processes of excitation and inhibition in the cerebral cortex [2], which necessitates an accurate assessment of it.

There is a method of estimating the reaction time of a person to a moving object, according to which the subjects are presented with a dial of a conventional arrow stopwatch, one division of which is 0.01 s. Subjects using the “Can” command press the button to start the stopwatch and stop it when the arrow reaches the specified division on the dial. 13 measurements are taken, three of which are considered indicative and are not taken into account when estimating the reaction time to a moving object. The indicator of the reaction to a moving object is the average value of delay errors and the average value of lead errors. To estimate the average value of the delay errors, the sum of deviations with a positive sign and the number of errors of this kind are calculated. Dividing the total value of errors by their number gives the desired value. In a similar way, a criterion characterizing the average value of lead errors is calculated. Comparison of the calculated average values gives an idea of the predominance of the average value of the errors of delay or lead, that is, the assessment of the reaction to a moving object [3].

Closest to the technical nature of the proposed method is a method of testing a person’s reaction to a moving object, during which the test subject is presented with a circle on the video monitor’s screen, on which the cursor and the mark “Stop” are placed. To ensure the cursor moves around the circle, the test subject holds the control panel button with the probe pressed. At the moment of the supposed coincidence of the cursor with the mark, the subject presses out the remote control button with the probe. By the number of leading, lagging and accurate reactions, they judge the correlation of the processes of inhibition and excitation in the central nervous system, that is, on the assessment of the reaction to a moving object [4].

A disadvantage of the known methods is the low reliability of estimating the reaction time of a person to a moving object, when the number of delay errors is not equal to the number of lead errors, and their values slightly differ from each other, or when the number of delay errors is equal to the number of lead errors, but their values significantly differ from friend.

The technical result of the proposed method for assessing the response time of a person to a moving object is to increase the reliability of the assessment in all cases, the ratio of the processes of excitation and inhibition in the central nervous system.

The technical result is achieved by the fact that the test subject is presented on the screen of the video monitor with a circle on which the mark and the point object are placed, and it is new that the point object moves at a given speed around the circle, at the moment of the supposed coincidence of the position of the moving point object with the mark, the subject is tested by pressing the button " Stop ”stops the movement of a point object in a circle, then the error of non-coincidence of the point object and the mark is calculated - the time of the delay error with a positive sign or lead eniya with a negative sign, and after the predetermined time point object motion resumes circumferentially described procedure is repeated a predetermined number of times, and then calculating the reaction time evaluation of human T _p to a moving object as the value of the formula

where t _i - i-th error of delay with a positive sign or lead with a negative sign, ms; n is the number of stops of a point object in the region of the mark position.

Figure 1 shows the circle presented to the test subject on the screen of the video monitor, where 1 is the mark, 2 is the point object moving at a given speed around the circle.

Figure 2-6 presents individual graphs of the values of the errors of delay and lead of five subjects.

The proposed method for assessing the response time of a person to a moving object is as follows.

On the screen of the video monitor, the test subject is presented with a circle on which a mark and a point object moving around the circle are placed. The subject, observing the movement of a point object, at the time of the supposed coincidence of the position of the moving point object with the mark by pressing the Stop button, stops the movement of the point object in a circle. Then, the error of non-coincidence of the point object and the label is calculated - the time of the error of delay or lead, and after a specified time the movement of the point object around the circle is resumed. The subject performs the described procedure a predetermined number of times, after which the response time T _{p of a} person to a moving object is calculated by the formula (1).

Thus, the claimed method of estimating the time of a person’s reaction to a moving object has new properties that determine the receipt of a positive effect.

Example 1

Subject A., 19 years old, was presented with a circle on which the mark was placed on the screen of a video monitor of a personal computer compatible with IBM PC; a point object moves clockwise around the circle at a given speed. The subject, observing the movement of a point object around the circumference, at the time of the supposed coincidence of the position of the point object with the position of the mark, pressed the computer keyboard key "Space", which performs the function of the "Stop" button. The computer at the moment of pressing the “Space” key stopped the movement of the point object in a circle, calculated the error of the position of the point object and the mark not coinciding, the time of the delay error with a positive sign or lead with a negative sign, entered the value of the error time with the corresponding sign in the storage device and after 1 c continued to move the point object in a circle.

In accordance with the recommendations of [3], the test subject performed 13 stops of the motion of a point object in the region of the mark position, the first three of which were not taken into account when evaluating the reaction time to a moving object. As a result of testing, the following error values were obtained that did not match the position of the point object and the label: +3; +19; 0; +31; -twenty; -eleven; -fifteen; +27; +18; +8, which are presented in chart form in figure 2.

The chart was a visual comparison of the total areas of the columns of the chart in the region of positive values and in the region of negative values. The predominance of the total area of the columns of the diagram in the region of positive values was interpreted as the predominance of the processes of inhibition over the processes of excitation in the central nervous system of the test subject, the predominance of the total area of the columns of the diagram in the region of negative values was interpreted as the predominance of the processes of excitation over the processes of inhibition.

Analysis of the total area of the columns of the diagram indicates the predominance of inhibition processes over the processes of excitation in the central nervous system of the subject.

Estimation of the reaction time of the test subject to a moving object, calculated by the formula (1), is +60 ms, which indicates the predominance of inhibition processes over excitation processes.

The calculation of the assessment of the reaction time of the test subject to a moving object, calculated by the method described in [3], gave the following results:

- the number of delay errors: 6;

- average value of delay errors: +17.7 ms;

- number of lead errors: 4;

- the average value of lead errors: -15.3 ms.

A comparison of the calculated average values of the delay and lead errors indicates a slight predominance of inhibition processes over excitation processes, that is, a state close to their balance [3].

Calculation of the assessment of the reaction time of the test subject to a moving object, calculated by the method described in [4], gave the following results:

- number of leading reactions: 4;

- number of lagging reactions: 6.

A comparison of the number of leading and lagging reactions indicates the predominance of inhibition processes in the central nervous system of the subject.

The results of the assessment obtained on the basis of a visual analysis of the diagram of the values of the errors of delay and lead and calculation of the estimated time of reaction of the test subject to a moving object by the proposed and known methods [3] and [4] are presented in table 1.

Table 1 The method of evaluating the reaction time of the test subject to a moving object Calculation results Evaluation result Match Score Chart Visual chart analysis Figure 2 predominance of braking processes - Proposed method + 60 ms predominance of braking processes Yes The known method described in [3] The value of lag errors +17.7 ms process balance no The amount of lead errors -15.3 ms The known method described in [4] Number of leading reactions four predominance of braking processes Yes Number of lagging reactions 6

In this example, from the analysis of the estimates obtained by the proposed and known methods, it follows that the assessment of the reaction time of the test subject to a moving object by the proposed method coincides with the estimate made on the basis of the visual analysis of the diagram (Fig. 2), does not coincide with the estimate by the method, described in [3], and coincides with the assessment by the method described in [4].

To assess the sensitivity of the proposed method, a comparative assessment of the sensitivity of the proposed method and the known methods [3] and [4] was carried out. Since in this example there is a coincidence of the estimates of the ratio of the processes of excitation and inhibition in the central nervous system only by the proposed method and the known method [4], a comparative assessment of the sensitivity of the proposed method relative to the known was carried out only between them.

The absolute difference in the number of leading and lagging reactions, which is the basis for comparing the number of delay and lead errors and the basis for making an assessment of the ratio of the processes of excitation and inhibition by the method [4], is 2. The reaction time to a moving object by the proposed method, calculated by the formula ( 1) is +60 ms.

Thus, in this example, the proposed method has greater sensitivity in comparison with the known method [4], which indicates a higher reliability of the estimates obtained using the proposed method.

Example 2

Subject B., 20 years old, similar to subject A., performed a test to assess the response to a moving object. As a result of testing, the following error values were obtained that did not match the position of the point object and the label: -20; +23; -22; +17; -26; -3; -17; +19; -8; +25, which are presented in the form of a diagram in figure 3.

Similarly, an assessment is made on the basis of a visual analysis of the diagram of the values of delay and lead errors and a calculation is made of the estimated reaction time of the test subject to a moving object according to the proposed and known methods [3] and [4], the estimates obtained are presented in table 2.

table 2 The method of evaluating the reaction time of the test subject to a moving object Calculation results Evaluation result Match Score Chart Visual chart analysis Figure 3 the predominance of excitation processes - Proposed method -12 ms the predominance of excitation processes Yes The known method described in [3] The value of lag errors + 21.0 ms predominance of braking processes no The amount of lead errors -16.0 ms The known method described in [4] Number of leading reactions 6 the predominance of excitation processes Yes Number of lagging reactions four

In this example, from the analysis of the estimates obtained by the proposed and known methods, it follows that the assessment of the reaction time of the test subject to a moving object by the proposed method coincides with the estimate based on the visual analysis of the diagram (Fig. 3), does not coincide with the assessment by the method, described in [3], and coincides with the assessment by the method described in [4].

To assess the sensitivity of the proposed method, a comparative assessment of the sensitivity of the proposed method and known methods [3] and [4] was carried out. Since in this example there is a coincidence of the estimates of the ratio of the processes of excitation and inhibition in the central nervous system only by the proposed method and the known method [4], a comparative assessment of the sensitivity of the proposed method relative to the known was carried out only between them.

The absolute difference in the number of leading and lagging reactions, which is the basis for comparing the number of errors of delay and lead and the basis for making an estimate on the ratio of the processes of excitation and inhibition by the method [4], is 2. The reaction time to a moving object by the proposed method, calculated by the formula (1) is - 12 ms.

Thus, in this example, the proposed method has greater sensitivity in comparison with the known methods [4], which indicates a higher reliability of the estimates obtained using the proposed method.

Example 3

Subject V., 18 years old, similar to Subject A., performed a test to assess the response to a moving object. As a result of testing, the following error values were obtained that did not match the position of the point object and the label: -19; -eleven; -28; +31; -25; -8; +36; -8; +22; +22, which are presented in the form of a diagram in figure 4.

Similarly, an assessment is made on the basis of a visual analysis of the diagram of the values of the delay and lead errors and a calculation is made of the estimated reaction time of the test subject to a moving object by the proposed and known methods [3] and [4], the estimates obtained are presented in table 3.

Table 3 The method of evaluating the reaction time of the test subject to a moving object Calculation results Evaluation result Match Score Chart Visual chart analysis Figure 4 predominance of braking processes - Proposed method + 12 ms predominance of braking processes Yes The known method described in [3] The value of lag errors +27.8 ms predominance of braking processes Yes The amount of lead errors -16.5 ms The known method described in [4] Number of leading reactions 6 the predominance of excitation processes no Number of lagging reactions four

In this example, from the analysis of the estimates obtained by the proposed and known methods, it follows that the assessment of the reaction time of the test subject to a moving object according to the proposed method coincides with the estimate based on the visual analysis of the diagram (Fig. 4), coincides with the estimate by the method described in [3], and does not coincide with the estimate by the method described in [4].

To assess the sensitivity of the proposed method, a comparative assessment of the sensitivity of the proposed method and the known methods [3] and [4] was carried out. Since in this example there is a coincidence of the estimates of the ratio of the processes of excitation and inhibition in the central nervous system only by the proposed method and the known method [3], a comparative assessment of the sensitivity of the proposed method relative to the known was carried out only between them.

The difference between the absolute values of the average values of the errors of delay and lead, which is the basis for comparing the average values of the errors of delay and lead and the basis for making an assessment of the ratio of the processes of excitation and inhibition by the method [3], is +11.3 ms. The reaction time to a moving object by the proposed method, calculated by the formula (1), is +12 ms.

Thus, in this example, the proposed method has approximately the same sensitivity in comparison with the known method [3].

Example 4

Subject M., 20 years old, similar to subject A., performed a test to assess the response to a moving object. As a result of testing, the following error values were obtained that did not match the position of the point object and the label: -14; +19; -6; +16; -25; -eleven; -5; +24; -8; +11, which are presented in diagram form in figure 5.

Similarly, an assessment is made on the basis of a visual analysis of the diagram of the values of delay and lead errors and a calculation is made of the estimated reaction time of the test subject to a moving object according to the proposed and known methods [3] and [4], the estimates obtained are presented in table 4.

Table 4 The method of evaluating the reaction time of the test subject to a moving object Calculation results Evaluation result Match Score Chart Visual chart analysis Figure 5 process balance - Proposed method +1 ms process balance Yes The known method described in [3] The value of lag errors +17.5 ms predominance of braking processes no The amount of lead errors 11.5 ms The known method described in [4] Number of leading reactions 6 the predominance of excitation processes no Number of lagging reactions four

In this example, from the analysis of the estimates obtained by the proposed and known methods, it follows that the assessment of the reaction time of the test subject to a moving object according to the proposed method coincides with the estimate based on the visual analysis of the diagram (Fig. 5), does not coincide with the assessment by the method, described in [3], and does not coincide with the assessment by the method described in [4].

Since in this example the coincidence of the estimates of the ratio of the processes of excitation and inhibition in the central nervous system by the proposed method and the known methods [3] and [4] is not observed, a comparative assessment of the sensitivity of the proposed method relative to the known ones was not carried out.

Example 5

Subject T., 20 years old, similar to subject A., performed a test to assess the response to a moving object. As a result of testing, the following error values were obtained that did not match the position of the point object and the label: +27; +20; -22; -19; +26; +6; -8; +31; -39; -14, which are presented in diagram form in Fig.6.

Similarly, an assessment is made on the basis of a visual analysis of the diagram of the values of delay and lead errors and a calculation is made of the estimated reaction time of the test subject to a moving object according to the proposed and known methods [3] and [4], the estimates obtained are presented in table 5.

Table 5 The method of evaluating the reaction time of the test subject to a moving object Calculation results Evaluation result Match Score Chart Visual chart analysis 6 process balance - Proposed method +8 ms process balance Yes The known method described in [3] The value of lag errors + 22.0 ms process balance Yes The amount of lead errors -20.4 ms The known method described in [4] Number of leading reactions 5 process balance Yes Number of lagging reactions 5

Estimation of the reaction time of the test subject to a moving object, calculated by formula (1), is +8 ms, which indicates a slight predominance of inhibition processes over excitation processes, that is, a state close to the balance of excitation and inhibition processes.

In this example, from the analysis of the estimates obtained by the proposed and known methods, it follows that the assessment of the reaction time of the test subject to a moving object by the proposed method coincides with the estimate based on the visual analysis of the diagram (Fig. 5), coincides with the estimate by the method described in [3], and coincides with the estimate by the method described in [4].

To assess the sensitivity of the proposed method, a comparative assessment of the sensitivity of the proposed method and known methods [3] and [4] was carried out. Since in this example there is a coincidence of the estimates of the ratio of the processes of excitation and inhibition in the central nervous system according to the proposed method and the known methods [3] and [4], a comparative assessment of the sensitivity of the proposed method was carried out between all methods.

The difference between the absolute values of the average values of the errors of delay and lead, which is the basis for comparing the average values of the errors of delay and lead and the basis for making estimates about the ratio of the processes of excitation and braking by the method [3], is +1.6 ms.

The absolute difference in the number of leading and lagging reactions, which is the basis for comparing the number of delay and lead errors and the basis for making an estimate on the ratio of the processes of excitation and inhibition by the method [4], is 0. The reaction time to a moving object by the proposed method, calculated by the formula ( 1) is +8 ms. Thus, in this example, the proposed method has greater sensitivity in comparison with the known methods [3] and [4], since it shows that the state of the nervous processes of the subject is close to balance with a slight predominance of inhibition processes.

Thus, it was found that the assessment of the reaction time of the test subject to a moving object by the proposed method allows us to establish the true relationship of excitation and inhibition in all cases, which indicates an increase in the reliability of the assessment.

The proposed method for assessing the response time of a person to a moving object allows you to:

- increase the reliability of the assessment in all cases, the ratio of the processes of excitation and inhibition;

- coincides with the assessment based on the visual analysis of the chart;

- give a quantitative assessment that allows you to evaluate its accuracy;

- increase the sensitivity of the assessment.

The positive effect of the proposed method for assessing the response time of a person to a moving object is confirmed by the results of an experimental study on a group of 10 subjects.

Thus, the proposed method for assessing the response time of a person to a moving object allows to increase the reliability of the assessment and draw the correct conclusion about the ratio of the processes of inhibition and excitation in the central nervous system.

Literature

1. Surnina O.E., Lebedeva E.V. Sexual and age-related differences in reaction time to a moving object in children and adults // Human Physiology. - 2001. - T.27, No. 4. - S. 56-60.

2. Karaulova N.I. Possibilities of using the reaction to a moving object in assessing the results of training // Human Physiology. - 1982. - T. 8, No. 4. - S.653-660.

3. Methods and portable equipment for the study of individual psychological differences of a person / N.M. Peysakhov, A. P. Kashin, G. G. Baranov, R. G. Vagapov; Ed. V.M.Shadrina. - Kazan: Publishing house Kazan. University, 1976 .-- 238 p.

4. Maslova O.I., Goryunova A.V., Guryeva M.B. et al. The use of test computer systems in the diagnosis of cognitive impairment in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in school children // Medical Technology. - 2005. - No. 1. - S.7-13.

5. GOST R 50779.21-2004. Definition rules and methods for calculating statistical characteristics from sample data. - Part 1: Normal distribution. - M .: Publishing house of standards, 2004. - 43 p.

Claims (1)

A method of estimating the reaction time of a person to a moving object by presenting to the subject on the video monitor a circle on which the mark and point object are placed, characterized in that the point object moves at a given speed around the circle, at the moment the position of the moving point object coincides with the mark, the subject is tested by pressing a button “Stop” stops the movement of a point object in a circle, then the error of mismatch between the point object and the mark is calculated — the time of the delay error is positive Nacom feedforward or with negative sign, and after the predetermined time point object motion resumes circumferentially described procedure is repeated a predetermined number of times, and then calculating the reaction time evaluation of human T _p to a moving object as the value of the formula:

,
where t _i - i-th error of delay with a positive sign or lead with a negative sign, ms; n is the number of stops of a point object in the region of the mark position.

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