Reaction Time Test

Visual reaction time measures how quickly you respond to a visual stimulus. It is one component of processing speed, linked to cognitive performance and physical coordination.

Average reaction times

Group	Average reaction time
Average adult	200-250 ms
Trained athletes	150-190 ms
Action video game players	~180 ms (trained over time)
Over 60 years old	250-300+ ms
Children (8-12)	300-450 ms

What affects reaction time?

Fatigue: sleep deprivation can double reaction time
Alcohol: 0.08% BAC (legal limit in many countries) adds ~30-50 ms; driving severely impaired at 0.15%
Age: peaks in early 20s; gradually slows after 24
Distraction: driving while texting: reaction time equivalent to 0.08% BAC
Caffeine: modest improvement (~10-15 ms) for non-habituated users

Tips for this test

Click as soon as the panel turns green, clicking before is penalized
Results vary between attempts, take 5 trials and average them
Screen lag adds 10-50 ms to results; true neurological reaction is faster than what this test can measure

Scientific context: age norms and the Kosinski 2013 study

A 2013 study (Kosinski, PLoS ONE) analyzing over 2 million web-based RT measurements confirmed laboratory findings on age effects. Established norms for simple visual reaction time:

Age group	Typical range	Notes
16-24 years	190-240 ms	Peak performance window
25-34 years	205-255 ms	Gradual decline begins (~1-2 ms/year)
35-49 years	220-275 ms	Experience can partly compensate
50-64 years	250-310 ms	Decline accelerates
65+ years	280-380 ms	Neural conduction and motor speed both slow

Motor execution accounts for ~100 ms of total RT; the rest is neural processing. Practice effects are real: 5-10 test sessions typically reduce RT by 10-30 ms as the brain optimizes the motor response. This makes repeated testing suitable for tracking personal change, but not for clinical diagnosis.