Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between personality traits, mood, and sensation seeking with reaction time and movement time under different arousal conditions.
Methods: The present study was applied in purpose and semi-experimental in method with a pretest-posttest multi-group design and correlational-predictive analysis. The statistical population consisted of university students in Tehran. Using purposive and convenience sampling, 140 students aged 18 to 25 years were selected. Research instruments included the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), the Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS-V), the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), and a two-stage chronometer based on a release-and-reach task. Reaction time and movement time were measured under two arousal conditions: normal and stimulated (induced through moderate aerobic exercise and high-tempo music). Data were analyzed using dependent and independent t-tests, Pearson correlation, analysis of covariance, and hierarchical multiple regression in SPSS version 22.
Findings: Stimulated arousal significantly reduced reaction time (from 238.45 to 212.30 ms) and movement time (from 185.70 to 168.40 ms) (P<0.001). Sensation seeking and extraversion showed significant negative correlations with both time components, while neuroticism showed significant positive correlations with both components (P<0.05). Positive mood was negatively correlated with both components, and negative mood was positively correlated with reaction time (P<0.05); however, the relationship between negative mood and movement time under stimulated arousal was not significant (P=0.067). After controlling for mood, the differences in both components between the two arousal conditions remained significant (P<0.001). Under normal arousal, the high sensation-seeking group had shorter reaction time and movement time than the low sensation-seeking group (P<0.01), but under stimulated arousal, the difference between the two groups was not significant (P>0.05). The hierarchical regression model under normal arousal explained 19.2% of the variance in reaction time and 13.8% of the variance in movement time.
Conclusion: The findings indicated that stimulated arousal improves both time components, but its effect on reaction time is stronger than on movement time. Personality traits play an important role in determining response speed, but their effects are moderated under high arousal conditions. After statistically controlling for positive and negative mood as covariates, the effect of arousal on both time components remained significant, indicating that the effect of arousal is largely independent of mood. Positive mood, however, accounted for a small but significant portion of the variance in both components. These findings can be useful for designing training programs and targeted interventions in motor performance.