Reaction Time and Heart Rate Between the GET SET and GO of Simulated Races.

The results of three experiments are reported in which simulated race situations, i.e., GET SET--5 sec--GO, were used to examine the anticipatory HR response and RT. The first study involved sprinting up a flight of stairs and the second and third a bicycle sprint. The typical pattern of phasic HR found was acceleration until I sec prior to GO and then deceleration. Tonic HR appeared to be a function of the degree of anticipated physical effort. Muscle potential, recorded in the first experiment, appeared to be related to HR. No systematic relationship was found between HR and RT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]