In this Issue

- Hand vs. Foot Reactions
  Experiment
- Tech Note:  FRS-100 Foot
  Reaction Switch
- Download LabScribe2
  Settings File for
  New Experiment
- Free Upgrade to
  LabScribe2 Software
- Web Resources:
  reflexes, receptor
  organs, and muscles

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The iWorx newsletter is a FREE monthly publication dedicated to sharing teaching laboratory techniques and other useful information with educators in the fields of Anatomy and Physiology. We will also be sending you technical information and info on new developments at iWorx that we feel may be of use to you in your teaching and research activities.

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June 2007

Experiment:  Hand vs. Foot Reactions

Have you ever wondered how fast the foot reactions of athletes like Mia Hamm and David Beckham really are?  Soccer players are amazingly fast when it comes to being able to react with their feet, and the goalies have to rely on their hands, as well as their feet, to block the shots coming at them.  Rugby, football, tennis, and baseball require athletes to be able to have quick reactions, as well as speed, when a ball is in play.  Any sport that utilizes hand and foot reactions requires players to undergo both speed and agility training.  Speed training focuses not only on being fast to the ball, but having a very quick reaction when getting to the ball.  If the reaction is not fast enough, the opposing player wins out.   

The Hand vs. Foot Reactions experiment is an easy and fun way for students to examine reflex type reactions and the possible differences in reaction times of reflexes using two body parts.  Instructors can classify students into groups that tend to rely more on their hands or feet for sports or other daily activities.  The reaction times for each group can then be correlated to the overall class results. 

In this experiment, students will perform exercises to determine if their hands or feet react more quickly to visual cues or auditory cues.  Students will deliver visual and auditory cues to their subject using the EM-100 Event Marker.  Hand reaction times will be measured using the Enter key of the computer to mark the recording at the time of the subject’s response.  Foot reaction times will be measured using the new FRS-100 Foot Reaction Switch to mark the time of the subject’s response.  Students are asked to find reasons why one body part may have a quicker reaction than the other.  The experiment can easily be expanded to include right vs. left hand, or right vs. left foot, using the same settings file.

Tech Note:  The FRS-100 Foot Reaction Switch

The FRS-100 is a simple electronic switch that can create a signal mark on a recording.  The FRS-100 connects to the DIN8 inputs of an iWorx amplifier or IX214 data acquisition unit.  Pressing on the pedal of the FRS-100 sends a +5V signal to the recording channel to which the unit is connected. Releasing the pedal of the switch opens the switch and returns the voltage recorded to zero. 

To learn more about the FRS-100 Foot Reaction Switch, click here to view a Tech Note.

Download the updated settings file for this month's experiment with LabScribe2 Software.

If you plan to use the Hand-Foot Reaction experiment in your course, iWorx users can obtain a copy of the settings file used to configure the LabScribe2 recording software to do this experiment by clicking here.

To learn how to create your own groups of settings files for use with LabScribe2, click here. The new Settings Manager in LabScribe2 permits numerous pieces of support material to be linked to a settings file and opened automatically when a settings file is selected from the Settings menu. In LabScribe2, animations, illustrations, movies, websites, experimental write-ups, and more can be opened automatically when a settings file is opened.
 

Free Upgrade to LabScribe2 Software

As always, iWorx software upgrades are free.  The iWorx license agreement also permits the software to be copied and distributed to other computers.  This enables students to record data in the lab and work on analysis and lab reports at their convenience.   Learn more about LabScribe2 software here.

If you are a registered iWorx customers, you can upgrade to LabScribe2 software in the iWorx Users Area.  Or go here to register for access to the Users Area and upgrade your software.

iWorx users can download a pdf version of the LabScribe2 manual  here.

Learn more about reflexes, receptor organs, and muscles by going to the external Web resources page.

On this page we have also accumulated a host of links to informative, external physiology Web sites and conveniently categorized them into major subcategories for easy reference.