RE: [Leica] Reaction time, stimuli and photography

["Phong" <phong@doan-ltd.com>]

I used to play the "catch the bill" game a lot as a kid.
If the catcher was allowed to touch the releasing hand
say with his pinky, it increased his odds tremendously,
thus confirming that the ocular path is slower than a
true reflex.  Hey, that's a very graphic way to illustrate
the concept if you teach neurology or biology.

- - Phong


caliguri@rcn.com wrote:
>
> Hi Folks!
>
> Reaction time and stimuli are, scientifically, paired in an extremely
> interesting way. Reflexive reactions, such as the 'hammer on knee'
> check you might receive in a medical check. The 'flexor reaction' of your
> leg when you step on something that hurts, is VERY fast -- in some
> less than 10 milliseconds (the signal does not have to travel to the
> higher areas of the central nervous system. They just need to pass
> through the spinal cord and a couple of synapses). Yes - you are
> eventually aware of it, but it will happen with your eyes closed and ears
> not hearing a thing! Others, such as the trick of having a person hold
> their thumb and index finger 6 or so cm. apart, while you hold the bill
> vertically with the bottom edge between them. Ask them to catch it with
> their two fingers when you drop it and they can keep it. MOST of the
> time, they cannot (so watch the amount!) because that action is not
> reflexive, they it's the "ocular" path so to speak, that one of you had
> mentioned. There is a lot of processing that needs to take place from
> when the 'catcher' sees it fall and pinches her fingers. Wild animals are
> blessed with some actions that are reflexive for them, but most people,
> that help them evade predators or get dinner etc.... that  sometimes
> makes photographing them, birds especially, very difficult. It also
> depends on the size and type of the neurons, type of muscle and
> junction, use of smell, etc....However, I suppose the point I am after is
> this -- most neuroscientists would agree that we can all be 'wired'
> differently, with multi pathways that provide the same end. Maybe some
> of the better 'peak action' photographers can be so in tune with their
> subject, camera, environment that their photography becomes more
> reflexive than contrived. Their camera, it's lag time, the sound and feel
> of it, becomes part of the whole. Perfect blend of human and machine
> working in harmony, such as great sports superstars or people who
> just 'know' what to do under certain circumstances. There are many
> possibilities! Really very interesting to think on!
> Ed


- --
To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html