[[alternative]]Temporal Variables of Information Processing and Practice Effects of Persons with Down Syndrome

[[abstract]]This purpose of this study was to examine reaction time (RT) premotor reaction time (PMT) and motor reaction time (MOT) switch releasing task and its practice effects of persons with Down syndrome (WDS) and without Down syndrome (WODS). Participants were 20 youths, 10 with DS (18.6 ± 1.5 years) and 10 NS (16.3 ± 0.6 years).Responses of biceps and timing of switch releasing were recorded by Biovision system (2000HZ). Each participant performed three blocks, with 10 trials in each block. Independent variables were groups and blocks, and dependent variables were RT, PMT, and MOT. Mixed-design two-way ANOVA, 2 (groups) × 3 (blocks), with the blocks as repeated measure, and least significant difference (LSD) Post Hoc test were administered for statistical analyses. The findings were as follows: (1) persons with WDS were slower than WODS in all the information processing temporal variables, RT, PMT, and MOT, indicating that WDS require more time to plan and execute due to central and peripheral processing deficits. (2) The effect of practice could be observed in both WDS and WODS in terms of RT, PMT, and MOT, indicating that efficiency of central and peripheral activity were increased with practice.