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Mental Chronometry Measured By Electromyography In Cognitive Experiments Demanding Movement For Response Elicitation, Mohammad Abdolvahab, Miguel Moreno, Nigel Stepp, Daniela Vaz, Michael Turvey

Mohammad Abdolvahab

The classical button pressing in reaction time experiments has shown to be limited in revealing underlying mental chronometry of cognitive processes. We inquired if it would be possible to unfold the timing of muscle activations in preparation to execute a movement (the so called anticipatory postural adjustments) in response to a cognitive demand in a couple of experiments. We asked our participants to stand in front of a computer screen and respond by raising their arm to a horizontal position. We recorded electromyographic activity of right and left biceps femoris, erector spinae and deltoid together with kinematic angular movement of …