Effects of Age and Sex on Reaction Time in Masters Track and Field Athletes

Authors

Yanbing Zhou, University of Texas at AustinFollow
Natalie McLaurin, University of Texas at AustinFollow
Jonas Boecker, German Aerospace Center (DLR)Follow
Phil Chilibeck, University of SaskatchewanFollow
Tanja Taivassalo, University of FloridaFollow
Sean Forbes, University of FloridaFollow
Dominik Pesta, German Aerospace Center (DLR)Follow
Jörn Rittweger, German Aerospace Center (DLR)Follow
Hirofumi Tanaka, University of Texas at AustinFollow

Abstract

Reaction time (RT) is a key indicator of cognitive processing speed and plays a critical role in athletic performance.  Investigating RT in masters athletes can provide valuable insight as it may help disentangle age-related cognitive processing from physical decline.  However, it is unknown whether masters athletes exhibit age-related declines in RT and whether sex and task complexity modulate these changes.  PURPOSE: To evaluate RT in male and female masters track-and-field athletes varying in age.   METHODS: One hundred and eighty-two masters athletes were recruited from the 2025 World Masters Athletics Indoor Track and Field Championships in Florida.  Four RT tests (one-hand simple, two-hand simple, one-hand choice, and choice step) were conducted using a wireless light-based testing system.  For each test, participants were instructed to deactivate a random sequence of light sensors, which activated one at a time, as quickly as possible.  RESULTS: Male (n=100) and female (n=82) athletes were similar in age (63 ± 14 vs. 61 ± 13 years) and BMI (25 ± 4 vs. 23 ± 4 kg/m²).  Male athletes demonstrated faster RT compared with female athletes at any given age for all RT tests (pCONCLUSION: In masters track-and-field athletes, RT slows progressively with advancing aging.  The age-related increase in male and female RT was similar across all RT tasks, without a significant influence of task complexity.  Male athletes demonstrate faster RT than their female peers but appear to slow more sharply at later decades.

Recommended Citation

Zhou, Yanbing; McLaurin, Natalie; Boecker, Jonas; Chilibeck, Phil; Taivassalo, Tanja; Forbes, Sean; Pesta, Dominik; Rittweger, Jörn; and Tanaka, Hirofumi (2026) "Effects of Age and Sex on Reaction Time in Masters Track and Field Athletes," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 18, Article 20.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/20