How fast are your reflexes? Click when the screen turns green!
Reaction time measurement has roots stretching back to the 1860s, when Dutch physiologist Franciscus Donders pioneered chronometric experiments to study the speed of mental processes. Today, simple reaction time tests remain a standard tool in sports science, neurology, and human factors research. The test measures the interval between a visual stimulus appearing and your motor response, a chain that involves your retina detecting the change, your visual cortex processing it, your prefrontal cortex deciding to act, and your motor cortex firing the muscles in your hand. The average adult completes this loop in roughly 200 to 250 milliseconds. Professional esports athletes and Formula 1 drivers often train their reaction times down to 150 to 180 milliseconds through deliberate practice. Factors like sleep quality, caffeine intake, and ambient lighting all influence your score on any given session.