Central and peripheral visual reaction time of soccer players and nonathletes.

Visual Reaction Time (RT) was measured by presenting three different sizes of stimulus to the central and peripheral fields of vision in 6 soccer players and 6 nonathletes. An electromyogram was recorded from the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle of the responding forearm. Peripheral visual RT was longer in comparison to central visual RT due to an increment in Premotor Time. The soccer players showed shorter Premotor Times during central and peripheral visual RT tasks than nonathletes, suggesting that the soccer players are better able to respond quickly to a stimulus presented to peripheral as well as central positions.