The effect of alcohol on reaction times Essay Example for Free

The effect of alcohol on reaction times Essay The table is used to drop the ruler from so we know that the height the ruler is dropped from is the same each time we do the experiment. We will hold the bottom of the ruler level with the surface of the table before it is dropped. The ruler is to be used as the measurement of peoples reaction times in millimetres. The pen is to mark out where the thumb and first finger must be when the ruler is released and is also used to record the results on the paper. Method We will make two short lines at the end of the table 1. 7 centimetres apart. The inside of the right hand thumb and right hand first finger must be placed along side these. We will place the ruler inside the fingers in the centre with the side with the shortest width touching the table and also facing away from the table. The persons hands should be level with the bottom of the ruler. The ruler will be released without warning the person who is catching it. The person catching it must have clear visibility of the ruler. When the person has caught the ruler the measurement should be read from the bottom side of his finger and thumb and not from above them. Write the results down on the paper and repeat the experiment four more times. When the experiment has been carried out five times we will make the person catching the ruler drink four units of alcohol. After he has finished drinking the last unit we will wait twenty minutes for the alcohol to take effect. We do this to see what difference alcohol has on the reaction times. Now we repeat the experiment above again. We will test four people. A young male and an older male, ages 15 and 44, and a young female and an older female, ages 11 and 38. The factors we will keep the same to make sure the experiment is a fair test are: Height ruler is dropped from Visibility Thumb and finger used No drugs Distance fingers are from ruler before it is released Moisture of skin Food Eaten Prior To Experiment Heart Rate Prediction I predict that the more alcohol that has been consumed, the longer the time it takes the body to react. I think alcohol effects the transmitter fluid in the synapse, or effects the myelin sheath on the axon. In turn this will considerably lengthen the reaction times. Also, the alcohol may have an effect on the neurotransmitters in the synapse. We now that alcohol is a poison. It could poison the neurotransmitters in the synapse, cause them to not work as fast, or even carry messages for them. I dont think the relationship between the alcohol consumed will be directly proportional. Preliminary Work Prior to making these plans for the experiment, we carried out a preliminary test. This test helped us a lot in understanding what the aim of the experiment was and gave us a rough idea of what we were going to do. Also, we can learn from the mistakes that we made in the preliminary work, so that we can ensure it is a fair test in the experiment. Results Attempt Distance 1 8. 6cm 2 9. 6cm 3 7. 9cm 4 10. 4cm Conclusion From our results we can make a safe conclusion that the reaction times of a person are very fast when they arent under the influence of alcohol. Also, because there are no anomalous results we can make a safe average reaction time from this. Average reaction time = 9. 125 seconds. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Patterns of Behaviour section.