Question 1

The time it takes to initiative a movement is known as
A) Movement Time
B) Decision Time
C) Reaction Time
D) Initiation Time

Accepted Answer

Reaction Time is the interval between the presentation of a stimulus and the initiation of the muscular response to that stimulus.

Question 2

The time it takes to complete a movement, from beginning to end, is known as
A) Reaction Time
B) Response Selection Time
C) Decision Time
D) Movement Time

Accepted Answer

Movement Time is the time it takes to complete a movement, from beginning to end. Reaction Time is the time it takes to initiate a response after the presentation of a stimulus. Response Selection Time is the time it takes to choose between different responses. Decision Time is the time it takes to make a decision. None of these options account for the time it takes to physically complete a movement, which is why Movement Time is the correct choice.

Question 3

In Donders' experiments on reaction time, the time it takes to discriminate between 2 stimuli is calculated by subtracting the "simple reaction time" from which value?
A) Decision Time
B) Movement Time
C) Response Selection Time
D) Reaction Time

Accepted Answer

The time it takes to discriminate between 2 stimuli is called the decision time, and it can be calculated by subtracting the simple reaction time (the time it takes to react to a single stimulus) from the overall reaction time. Therefore, the answer is A) Decision Time.

Question 4

In Donders' experiments on reaction time, the time it takes to select between 2 possible responses is calculated by subtracting ___________ from the Response Selection Time.
A) Simple Reaction Time
B) Decision Time
C) Movement Time
D) Nothing

Accepted Answer

In Donders' experiments, the Response Selection Time was measured as the time it takes to make a decision between two possible responses. This involves processing and evaluating the stimulus before selecting and initiating the appropriate response. To isolate this component of reaction time, Donders subtracted the Simple Reaction Time (time it takes to respond to a single stimulus) from the total response time. This calculation gives the Decision Time, which represents the time taken to select a response. Therefore, the best choice is B, as it is Decision Time that is subtracted from the Response Selection Time.

Question 5

Which of the following is not known to affect reaction time?
A) Stimulus intensity
B) Number of stimuli
C) Neural transmission speed
D) Index of Difficulty

Accepted Answer

The Index of Difficulty is a concept from Fitts' law, primarily related to the speed-accuracy trade-off in human motor performance, particularly in tasks like pointing or selecting objects on a computer screen. It does not directly affect reaction time, which is the time taken to respond to a stimulus. Reaction time is influenced by factors such as stimulus intensity, the number of stimuli, and neural transmission speed, which affect how quickly and efficiently the brain and nervous system can process and respond to information.

Question 6

According to the Hick-Hyman law, reaction time increases as a function of what aspect of the stimulus?
A) Stimulus color
B) Stimulus intensity
C) Number of stimuli
D) Index of Difficulty

Accepted Answer

The Hick-Hyman law states that reaction time increases logarithmically as the number of stimuli (or choices) increases. This is because the more options there are, the more information the brain has to process, leading to longer decision times.

Question 7

Which of the following statements best captures the effect known as the speed/accuracy tradeoffs?
A) Increasing movement speed increases accuracy
B) Increasing accuracy increases movement speed
C) Increasing movement speed decreases accuracy
D) Increasing movement time decreases accuracy

Accepted Answer

The speed/accuracy tradeoff states that as movement speed increases, accuracy decreases. This is because faster movements are more difficult to control precisely, leading to more errors or imprecision.

Question 8

According to Fitts' Law, which 2 factors determine the difficulty of a pointing task?
A) Number of stimuli and Size of stimuli
B) Size of stimuli and movement distance
C) Movement distance and movement direction
D) Movement distance and stimulus intensity

Accepted Answer

According to Fitts' Law, the difficulty of a pointing task is determined by the size of the target and the distance the user has to move the pointing device to reach the target. The law relates movement time to the ratio of the distance to the target and the width of the target. This means that the smaller the target and the greater the distance, the more difficult the task is to complete.

Question 9

Research shows that there is a strong linear relationship between movement time and the ratio of movement distance to target width. This is known as:
A) Fitts' Law
B) Hick-Hyman Law
C) Warrick Principle
D) Tracking Loop

Accepted Answer

Fitts' Law describes the relationship between movement time and the ratio of movement distance to target width. It is widely used in human-computer interaction and human factors engineering to design interfaces and tasks that are optimized for efficient and accurate performance. The other options, Hick-Hyman Law, Warrick Principle, and Tracking Loop, are not related to this concept.

Question 10

According to the principle of closed-loop control, which of the following decrease the accuracy of a movement?
A) Vision of the hand during a reach
B) Performing the movement very quickly
C) Performing the movement very slowly
D) Locating controls close to the user

Accepted Answer

According to the principle of closed-loop control, accuracy of movement decreases when it is performed very quickly.

Question 11

Which of the following is true about movements performed without visual feedback
A) The effect of the speed/accuracy tradeoff is more pronounced
B) The effect of the speed/accuracy tradeoff is less pronounced
C) These movements cannot be accurate
D) They are equally accurate as movements performed with visual feedback

Accepted Answer

Movements performed without visual feedback are typically less precise and accurate compared to movements performed with visual feedback. However, the effect of the speed/accuracy tradeoff is less pronounced because when visual feedback is not present, individuals tend to place more emphasis on movement accuracy.

Question 12

The idea that feedback about the state of a movement is used to monitor and adjust that movement as it unfolds is known as
A) Open-loop control
B) Feedforward control
C) Closed-loop control
D) Compensatory tracking

Accepted Answer

Closed-loop control uses feedback to continuously monitor and adjust the movement as it unfolds. Open-loop control does not rely on feedback, feedforward control uses anticipated signals instead of feedback, and compensatory tracking refers to a specific task where the subject must match their movement to a given target.

Question 13

The idea that movements are planned in advance, and are performed without corrections, is known as
A) Open-loop control
B) Feedback control
C) Closed-loop control
D) Compensatory Tracking

Accepted Answer

Open-loop control refers to movements that are pre-planned and carried out without the need for feedback or corrections. This type of control is often seen in simple, rapid movements such as hitting a tennis ball or throwing a dart.

Question 14

Which of the following is not used to plan an open-loop movement?
A) Perceived target location
B) Visual information about hand location
C) Feedback information about the movement
D) Proprioceptive information about hand location

Accepted Answer

Feedback information about the movement is used to plan a closed-loop movement, but not an open-loop movement. In an open-loop movement, the action is performed without being modified based on feedback during the movement itself. Perceived target location, visual information about hand location, and proprioceptive information about hand location are all used to plan open-loop movements.

Question 15

Some controls are designed to be operated by hand, others by foot. The differences in these controls is described as a difference in the _________ that operates them.
A) sense
B) effector
C) person
D) order of control

Accepted Answer

The effector refers to the body part used to operate a control or device. In this case, hand and foot are the effectors used to operate different controls.

Question 16

The number of different ways that a control can be manipulated depends on the variety of movements that can be performed with the effector used. This number is represented as the __________ of the effector.
A) size
B) timing
C) degrees of freedom
D) age

Accepted Answer

The number of different ways that a control can be manipulated is dependent upon the degrees of freedom of the effector. Degrees of freedom refer to the number of independent movements that can be made with a particular joint or limb. Therefore, the greater the degrees of freedom, the greater the potential variety of movements and control options. Size, timing, and age are not directly related to the number of control options available.

Question 17

__________ controls can be placed into any of a number of states along a continuum, while _________ controls can only be placed into a finite number states.
A) Continuous; discrete
B) Discrete; continuous
C) Rotary; linear
D) Linear; rotary

Accepted Answer

Continuous controls can be adjusted to any value within a range or continuum, such as volume or temperature knobs, while discrete controls can only be set to a finite number of specific values, such as buttons on a remote control. The other options refer to different types of physical movements or orientations of controls, which is not relevant to the question.

Question 18

While flying a plane, a pilot is able to easily select the control that lowers the landing gear, because the control handle looks like a wheel. This is an example of _______ coding.
A) color
B) location
C) texture
D) shape

Accepted Answer

The control handle is designed to look like a wheel, which is an example of shape coding. This makes it easier for the pilot to quickly identify and select the correct control. Color, location, and texture coding are other types of sensory coding.

Question 19

John is an audio technician in a recording studio who has to operate multiple knobs in a dimly lit environment. He is able to tell the difference between these knobs because some have a smooth surface and others have grooves etched into them. This is an example of ________ coding.
A) shape
B) texture
C) label
D) location

Accepted Answer

Texture coding refers to the use of tactile information, such as grooves or bumps, to distinguish between different objects. This is the case in the scenario given where John is able to differentiate between knobs by feeling their different textures.

Question 20

In most cars, the most important controls (steering wheel, gas and brake pedals) are placed close to the driver where they are easy to reach. Less important controls (radio, climate control) are farther away. This is an example of __________ coding.
A) size
B) location
C) label
D) redundant

Accepted Answer

This is an example of location coding, where the placement of controls is based on their importance and frequency of use.

Quiz 8: Motor Skills and Control

The time it takes to initiative a movement is known as

The time it takes to complete a movement, from beginning to end, is known as

In Donders' experiments on reaction time, the time it takes to discriminate between 2 stimuli is calculated by subtracting the "simple reaction time" from which value?

In Donders' experiments on reaction time, the time it takes to select between 2 possible responses is calculated by subtracting ___________ from the Response Selection Time.

Which of the following is not known to affect reaction time?

According to the Hick-Hyman law, reaction time increases as a function of what aspect of the stimulus?

Which of the following statements best captures the effect known as the speed/accuracy tradeoffs?

According to Fitts' Law, which 2 factors determine the difficulty of a pointing task?

Research shows that there is a strong linear relationship between movement time and the ratio of movement distance to target width. This is known as:

According to the principle of closed-loop control, which of the following decrease the accuracy of a movement?

Which of the following is true about movements performed without visual feedback

The idea that feedback about the state of a movement is used to monitor and adjust that movement as it unfolds is known as

The idea that movements are planned in advance, and are performed without corrections, is known as

Which of the following is not used to plan an open-loop movement?

Some controls are designed to be operated by hand, others by foot. The differences in these controls is described as a difference in the _________ that operates them.

The number of different ways that a control can be manipulated depends on the variety of movements that can be performed with the effector used. This number is represented as the __________ of the effector.

__ controls can be placed into any of a number of states along a continuum, while _ controls can only be placed into a finite number states.

While flying a plane, a pilot is able to easily select the control that lowers the landing gear, because the control handle looks like a wheel. This is an example of _______ coding.

John is an audio technician in a recording studio who has to operate multiple knobs in a dimly lit environment. He is able to tell the difference between these knobs because some have a smooth surface and others have grooves etched into them. This is an example of ________ coding.

In most cars, the most important controls (steering wheel, gas and brake pedals) are placed close to the driver where they are easy to reach. Less important controls (radio, climate control) are farther away. This is an example of __________ coding.