The quick and the dead: evidence that movement is swiftest in response to events in the environment

Scientists funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Wellcome Trust at the University of Birmingham have carried out laboratory gunfights to show that we move faster when we react to something in our environment than we do when we initiate the action ourselves an idea inspired by cowboy movies but in reality more useful for avoiding oncoming traffic. The results of this work could help to develop better strategies for rehabilitating people after a stroke or managing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• cowboy
• gunslinger
• wild west
• neuroscience
• biology
• BBSRC
• research
• birmingham
• wellcome trust
• science
• parkinson's
• stroke
• brain
• brain injury
• rehabilitation
• movement
• motion
• nerve
• psychology
• laboratory
• research council