Neural Conduction Velocity (NCV): The Hardware Limit
Human cognitive response speed is not merely an athletic metric; it directly reflects the "hardware" efficiency of the central nervous system. At its core is Neural Conduction Velocity (NCV). Electrical signals travel along an axon — the long projection of a nerve cell. Its speed depends critically on the diameter of the axon and the thickness of the myelin sheath. Myelin acts like high-performance fiber-optic insulation, allowing the signal to "jump" (saltatory conduction) across nodes of Ranvier, reaching speeds of up to 120 meters per second.
Hick's Law and Decision Latency
Known in psychology as Hick's Law, reaction time increases logarithmically as a function of the number of choices available. Each additional stimulus requires the brain to process an extra "bit" of information. Our assessment measures this raw latency, stripping away noise to reveal your brain's fundamental ability to sort incoming data and execute a motor response.
Reaction Time and General Intelligence (g-factor)
Arthur Jensen and other leading psychometricians identified a robust negative correlation between reaction time and general intelligence (g). This indicates that faster, more stable reaction times are often a marker of a more efficient neurological architecture capable of performing complex operations with lower error probability.
Response Time Variability (RTV) — The Hidden Indicator
Often, the variability of your responses is more significant than your absolute fastest speed. Erratic and fluctuating reaction times are frequently the first symptoms of attentional deficits (ADHD) or systemic cognitive fatigue. A healthy brain operates like precision clockwork. Increased variability suggests that neurochemical balance (the flow of acetylcholine and dopamine) is compromised, hindering stable cognitive performance.
Environmental Impact and Biological Rhythms
Your cognitive speed is not fixed. It pulses according to your circadian rhythm. Reaction speed typically peaks in the late afternoon, when core body temperature is highest, and dips significantly during the early morning hours. Additionally, inflammatory processes in the body can slow down synaptic transmission, making your responses feel "blunted" or sluggish.