Author and graduation date: Nisa D. DAVIS, October, 2002

Committee members: Roger Simmons (Chair), James Yaggie, Barbara Du Bois

Thesis title: Effects of a Physical Activity Program on the Coincidence-anticipation Timing Accuracy of Older Adults

This paper examines the effect of a given physical activity program on the slowing of reaction time and the deterioration of coincidence-anticipation timing that occurs with increasing age. Improvement in reaction time has been demonstrated with individuals who are physically active and previously sedentary individuals who participated in a physical activity program. Improvement in coincidence-anticipation timing has been seen in physically active older adults, although no study has determined if a physical activity program will improve this timing ability. Therefore this study investigated 27 older adults (24 females, 5 males; 61-92 years) who participated in either a given exercise intervention activity program (N=14) or a non-intervention activity program (N=13). There were significant differences in reaction time and coincidence-anticipation timing during the pre-test blocks, signifying that a learning effect occurred. A reduction in reaction time observed following the intervention was statistically non-significant. As for coincidence-anticipation timing, the intervention had no effect on the accuracy or variability of the responses. Both groups improved the amount of error bias, responding significantly earlier in pre-test measures with the non-intervention group tending to respond late and the intervention group responding early.

The lack of a pronounced difference between the two exercise protocols may explain the non-significant effect. Also the nature of the exercises may not have been sufficient to produce similar effect found in previous research. It is suggested that there be a quantification of minimal amount of intervention necessary to produce a significant change in motor performance as well as its feasibility with elderly individuals. It is also recommended that methods in data collection may be improved so that there may be less variability and fewer outlying data.

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