Reaction Time Reaction Time Factors Factors that Affect Reaction Time

Everything can and does affect our reaction time, one way or the other.  Our reaction time can be quickened; or it can be slowed down. 

These are factors that can quicken our reaction time.

Hyperthyroidism is one such disease.  It can quicken your reaction time.  With hyperthyroidism, when the doctor takes a medical instrument, and taps you lightly on your knee or elbow, your reaction time is very quick and very pronounced.

– Energy drinks and energy tablets speed up our reaction time.

– Arousal increases our reaction time.

-Feeling good quickens our reaction time.

– Being energetic and alert quickens our reaction time.

– Whenever our metabolism is quickened. our reaction time has also quickened.

– Advance warnings of increased stimuli or excitement speeds up our reaction time.

– Good news speeds up our reaction time.

-Gender can have an effect on our reaction time.  It is said that males have faster reaction times than females.

– Intelligence seems to effect our reaction time.   The more intelligent we are, normally the faster our reaction time.

These are factors that can slow down our reaction time.

– Drinking alcoholic beverages (overall) slows down our reaction time.  Alcohol is a depressant. 

– With hypothyroidism, our reaction time is slowed down.  If you have hypothyroidism, and your doctor takes his instrument and hits you lightly on your knee or elbow, your reaction time is slower than normal. 

– Not feeling well can cause our reaction time to be slowed or dulled. 

– Depression can cause our reaction time to be slower than normal. 

– Bad news does slow down our reaction time.

– Pot smoking slows down our reaction time.

– Fear can slow down your reaction time. 

– Being tired and not getting enough sleep can cause slowed reaction time. 

– Age can slow down your reaction time.

Being pre-occupied with thoughts and plans can cause our reaction time to be slowed, or it can cause our reaction time to be quickened.  This depends on whether our thoughts are causing us to feel depressed, or if our thoughts are causing us to be anxious. 

Sleeping patterns, our thoughts, our lifestyles, our relationships, our health, our age, our conditioning (amount of exercise), our eating habits, our habits, our busy work, our personality traits, our character, and many other factors affect our reaction time.