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AQA GCSE · Question 02.6 · Homeostasis and Response
Give two factors that might affect a person's reaction time.
Give two factors that might affect a person's reaction time.
How to approach this question
Think about things that can make you respond faster or slower. Consider lifestyle factors, substances you might consume, and internal states like how tired you are. List any two distinct factors.
Full Answer
1. Tiredness / fatigue
2. Intake of stimulants (e.g., caffeine) or depressants (e.g., alcohol)
A person's reaction time can be influenced by a variety of factors. These include:
- **Tiredness/Fatigue:** Being tired slows down nerve impulse transmission and processing in the brain.
- **Distractions:** If a person is not fully focused, their reaction time will be longer.
- **Drugs:** Stimulants like caffeine can decrease reaction time (make it faster), while depressants like alcohol will increase reaction time (make it slower).
- **Age:** Reaction times generally get faster from childhood to early adulthood, and then gradually slow down in older age.
- **Practice:** Repeating a task can improve reaction time as the neural pathways become more efficient.
Common mistakes
✗ Giving vague answers like "health". Be specific, e.g., "tiredness".
✗ Listing two very similar factors, e.g., "drinking coffee" and "drinking energy drinks". These are both examples of caffeine intake.
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