The Applicability of the Poincaré Plot in the Analysis of Variability of Reaction Time during Serial Testing

Elena Ioana Iconaru, Manuela Mihaela Ciucurel, Luminita Georgescu, Mariana Tudor and Constantin Ciucurel
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Elena Ioana Iconaru: Department of Medical Assistance and Physical Therapy, University of Pitesti, 110040 Pitesti, Romania
Manuela Mihaela Ciucurel: Department of Psychology and Communication Sciences, University of Pitesti, 110040 Pitesti, Romania
Luminita Georgescu: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Pitesti, 110040 Pitesti, Romania
Mariana Tudor: Department of Medical Assistance and Physical Therapy, University of Pitesti, 110040 Pitesti, Romania
Constantin Ciucurel: Department of Medical Assistance and Physical Therapy, University of Pitesti, 110040 Pitesti, Romania

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: (1) Background: This study aims to put into evince the relationship between the variability of the reaction time (RT) during repeated testing, expressed through indicators extracted by the Poincaré plot method, and the age of the participants, their self-reported health (SRH), and level of perceived anxiety. (2) Methods: The study was performed using computerized RT testing software. An observational cross-sectional study was performed on a group of 120 subjects (mean age 42.33 ± 21.12 years), sex ratio men to women 1.14:1. Data were processed through descriptive and inferential statistics. The Poincaré plot method was applied in the analysis of the RT series of data, by calculating the indicators SD 1 , SD 2 , SD 1 /SD 2 , and area of the fitting ellipse (AFE) (3) Results: We provided evidence of the excellent reliability of the web-based RT serial testing (Cronbach’s Alpha 0.991) with this sample group. Our results showed that age is an important predictor for mean values of RT, while SD 1 , SD 2 , and AFE indicators are for SRH ( p < 0.01). (4) Conclusions: the variability of RT, expressed by the Poincaré plot indicators, reflects the health status rather than the aging of the subjects and is barely influenced by their level of anxiety.

Keywords: reaction time; variability; nonlinear dynamics; health status; anxiety; aging (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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