Ageing & Reaction time in Indian Population

The effect of advancing age & gender on visual and auditory reaction time was evaluated in 320 normal Indianmale & female volunteers in the age group of 21-60 years. The volunteers were divided in two groups according to age;Group A comprised of 200 volunteers (100 males & 100 females) in the age group of 21-45 years & Group B comprised of 120volunteers (60 males & 60 females) in age group of 46 – 60 years. The auditory & visual reaction time was recorded usingTechno Digital Response Time apparatus. Significant increase in visual reaction time and auditory reaction time wasobserved with the advancing age. In males, auditory reaction time increased by 22.6 msec & the visual reaction time forgreen & red light increased by 24.3 msec & 23.9 msec respectively from Group A to Group B. Similarly in females, theauditory reaction time lengthened by 24.4 msec while visual reaction time for green & red light increased by 28.6 msec &27.1 msec respectively. The auditory reaction time was shorter in females in both the age groups, while visual reaction timewas shorter in males in both the age groups. The results for change in auditory reaction time due to advancing age in malesas well as females were significant (p<0.05). While the results for the effect of ageing on visual reaction time for red as wellas the green light in males & females were significant(p <0.05).