How quickly can you react? Test your reflexes to explore Hick's Law
What is Hick's Law?
Hick's Law predicts that reaction time increases as the number of stimulus-response alternatives increases. You'll test this yourself with two rounds:
🟢 Round 1 — Simple Reaction: One stimulus, one response. Tap the circle (or press 1 on a keyboard) as fast as you can when you see green.
🎨 Round 2 — Choice Reaction: Four colours, four responses. Only tap the one that lights up (or use keys 1 2 9 0).
Complete 5 trials for each, then compare your averages to see Hick's Law in action!
Wait for the circle to turn GREEN, then tap it as fast as you can!
💻 On a laptop? Press 1 instead of clicking
4 colours below. Wait for one to light up, then tap only that one!
💻 On a laptop? Use keys: 1 Red · 2 Blue · 9 Green · 0 Yellow
Can you think of an example in sport? What do you think would happen to your reaction time if there were 10 options?
⚽ Penalty kick in football (soccer):
A goalkeeper who commits early to diving only left or right (two choices) can react faster than one trying to cover left, right, high, low, chip and wait (many choices). Fewer anticipated options = quicker decision.
🏐 Volleyball defense:
A defender who is only reading for a hard cross-court spike can move sooner than one trying to prepare for cross-court, line shot, tip, roll shot and cut shot all at once.
🎾 Tennis return of serve:
A returner who decides "If it's to my forehand, I'll drive cross-court" (one clear response) reacts faster than someone trying to choose between drive, slice, drop shot or lob off the same serve.
🏀 Basketball point guard:
On a fast break, having two simple reads (pass to wing or take layup) allows a quicker play than scanning for multiple complex options (kick-out three, lob pass, pull-up jumper, dump-off pass, reset).