Frequency of the ‘Alpha’ Rhythm, Reaction Time and Age

Abstract

THE preliminary investigation described in this communication was suggested by the observations that (a) older people respond to a stimulus more slowly (simple reaction time is longer than in young people)^1–4, and (b) the dominant rhythm of the electroencephalogram, the ‘alpha’ rhythm, is slower in older people than in young^5–7. These findings raised the question of whether ‘alpha’ frequency might be a factor responsible for differences in reaction time. The present experiment was designed to discover if simple reaction time is related to ‘alpha’ frequency of the electroencephalogram recorded during the time which elapses between a stimulus and a response.