Slowed Reactions

Purpose: Your reactions will slow down and become impaired when you are under the influence of certain drugs or alcohol. For instance, Alcohol is a depressant and slows the body’s reaction time. This activity will simulate how the body’s reaction time will slow down while the person is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

Materials: None

Activity: Have group participants find a partner. Have one of the partners put both of his or her hands out in front of him or her with the palms facing each other. Now have him or her cross his or her arms over each other with his or her arms still out straight. Now turn the palms so they face each other again and interlock the fingers. Then pull the hands in towards the body by going in a downward motion and then bring them up under his or her chin. Tell the other partner that they are to ask the other person to move different fingers. The way he or she is to do this is to quickly point to a finger and says “Move this one”, but do not touch the finger that he wants moved. Have them keep pointing to different fingers they want moved without too much time in between requests. Now have the partners switch roles and repeat the process. Most people will find that it is hard to move the correct finger.

Now have the group participants repeat the entire activity but this time instead of pointing to the finger that they want their partner to move, they are to touch the finger they want moved. Have them switch roles so both of the partners have the experience. Most people will find this is easier than the first activity was. In the first activity the brain could not figure out which finger it should move. By crossing the arms over and then pulling the hands up under the chin, you have confused the brain. Remember the brain is wired with the right side of the brain controlling the left side of the body and the left side of the brain controlling the right side of the body. When you cross your hands, your eyes cannot quickly tell the brain which finger to move. When the person touches the finger that he or she wants moved the brain has no problem. It has more than just sight to rely on.

Processing:

1. What happened when your partner pointed to your fingers?

2. What happened when your partner touched your fingers?

Page 2 Slowed Reactions

3. Which activity was easier? Why?

4. What can this activity tell us about being under the influence?

5. If you are driving, what could happen during the time that it takes your brain to respond with the correct action?

6. What other activities could be impaired by slowed reaction time?

7. What kinds of jobs would be directly impacted if the person performing that job were under the influence?

Resource: Activities that Teach, Tom Jackson