Motor reaction time and probabilistic prognosis

The results of long-term studies demonstrating the predominant importance of probabilistic prognosis for quick motor reactions that have been carried out by the author and his research team are systematized and summarized. The results of experiments on the transition from a random to a fixed sequence of stimuli of different frequencies indicate that the reaction time upon presentation of stimuli depends on their expectation at a specific probability rather than on the frequency of their repetition. According to the experimental data, both prediction of the stimulus and prediction of the response are important: preadjustment is performed in both the motor and the sensory systems.