Impact of Age and Agility Performance Level on the Disjunctive Reaction Time of Soccer Goalkeepers

Summary The soccer goalkeeper's reaction speed to stimulus is essential for the overall success rate of goalkeepers in soccer. Our research was aimed at finding out the impact of age and agility performance level on the length of the disjunctive reaction time of elite goalkeepers in Slovakia. The research group was comprised of 24 goalkeepers of two Slovak soccer clubs (in group A were elite players and in group B sub-elite players). To gain the research data, the disjunctive reaction time was measured using the Fitro Agility Check device. The acquired results were statistically evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U-Test and Cohen's “d”. The impact of age (n.s) and performance level (n.s) on the length of the disjunctive reaction time of goalkeepers was not statistically confirmed. However, the substantive and logical significance showed that the best goalkeepers achieved a considerably shorter time of disjunctive reaction time to the set stimulus (difference – 20 %).

Individual Variability in Muller-Lyer Illusion Difference Thresholds: Moderating Influences of Hypnotic Susceptibility in Waking and Hypnosis

This study investigated the differential influences of hypnotic susceptibility on Muller-Lyer illusion difference thresholds in waking and hypnosis using the psychophysical method of constant stimuli. As assessed by the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (HGSHS:A) and the Group Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C (GSHSS:C), sixteen high (scores = 9–12) and sixteen low (scores = 0–3) hypnotizables participated. In counterbalanced sessions of waking and hypnosis, each subject was sequentially exposed to 110 computer-generated Muller-Lyer illusion pairs of comparison stimuli and a standard stimulus. Difference thresholds for high and low hypnotizables did not differ significantly in waking, but were significantly lower for high than low hypnotizables in hypnosis. Difference thresholds were also significantly lower for high hypnotizables in hypnosis than in waking. Low hypnotizables performed similarly in waking and hypnosis.