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Changes in Reaction Time and Motor Reflex

Started by rhonda13000, March 17, 2007, 02:56:42 PM

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rhonda13000

(listening to Copland's 'Fanfare for the Common Man'...)

I seem once again, to be in a very intense mood and psycho-intellectual posture. These states have been occurring more frequently and are longer in duration.

(DeFalla, 'Ritual Fire Dance'...)

I'm assuming that it is transitional/developmental/maturational in nature, but I am not certain. But I do perceive it as generally positive and I feel good.

But to my query: If the change was not significant, I would not have noted it, but roughly nine months into transition and HRT I observed that my reaction time notably DEcreased and motor reflex speed notably INcreased.

An entirely unexpected and interesting effect, indeed.

These two processes have improved so much that there have been times where I reacted and moved so fast that it just blew me away.

"WOW."

I'm thinking that this effect is related to the vastly increased efficiency and global cognitive processing power that was observed secondary to transitional process and in particular, HRT induced mental changes.

I am thinking that it's largely a function of dis-inhibition and the elimination of the severe 'psychic jamming and EMI' that untreated TS was generating, nearly to a debilitating point.

I think that it's more a function of mental freedom.

I have observed a number of changes that ostensibly made no sense at all and seemed bereft of any correlation.

You know, all that I wanted when I began my transition and initiated HRT was relief from my agony and pain.

So many things and changes that I have seen to date, have astounded me.

I'm not arguing.
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Ms.Behavin

I believe that a few studies have pointed to higher intellectual processing ability's in TS MtF.  Though on the flip side I've found a decrease in spaceal awareness That is I've more or less have lost my sense of direction, but then I still don't stop to ask for directions.  ;-)

Be good

Beni
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Melissa

I have not noticed any changes in these areas.  I've always had extremely good reaction times and motor reflexes.  In fact, I used to brag about how good I was.  Congrats on the improvement Rhonda.  As for spacial awareness, I seem to still be fine in this area as well. :)

Melissa
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LostInTime

I have not noticed a difference for myself either but then I have trained in the martial arts and I also shoot so those abilities have been flexed over a long period of time.

You may find this journal article interesting:

Estrogen and Memory in a Transsexual Population
Clare Miles,*,1 Richard Green,† Geoff Sanders,‡
and Melissa Hines*
*City University, London, United Kingdom; †Gender Identity Clinic, Charing Cross
Hospital, London, United Kingdom; and ‡London Guildhall University, United Kingdom
Received February 9, 1998; revised June 29, 1998; accepted August 12, 1998

The association between administered estrogen and
performance on verbal memory and other cognitive
tasks was examined. Male-to-female transsexuals undergoing
estrogen treatment for sex reassignment (n 5
29) scored higher on Paired Associate Learning (PAL)
compared to a similar transsexual control group, awaiting
estrogen treatment (n 5 30) (P < 0.05). No differences
between groups receiving and not receiving estrogen
were detected on a control memory task (Digit
Span) or on other cognitive tasks including Mental Rotations
and Controlled Associations. There were no
group differences in age. Group differences in mood or
in general intellectual ability also did not explain the
findings. Results suggest a specific influence of estrogen
in men on verbal memory tasks, similar to that seen
in prior studies of women. They are discussed in terms
of differential processing demands of the two memory
tasks and possible differences between estrogenic influences
on Mental Rotations and Controlled Associations
in men versus women. © 1998 Academic Press
[..snip..]
In summary, our results suggest that estrogen treatment
in male-to-female transsexuals improves performance
on a verbal memory task that shows a sex
difference (PAL), but not on a verbal memory task that
does not (Digit Span). These results are similar to
those reported previously for estrogenic influences on
memory in women and suggest that the proposed
ameliorating influences of estrogen on memory disorder
in women may apply to men as well. In contrast to
results for memory, estrogen did not affect performance
on other cognitive measures, including two
that show sex differences (Mental Rotations and Controlled
Associations) and one that does not (Vocabulary).
Additional research is needed to determine why
prior findings on women suggesting that estrogen
impairs performance on Mental Rotations and improves
performance on Controlled Associations were
not supported in our sample. One possibility is that
estrogen has different effects on these abilities in men
versus women.
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rhonda13000

"I think that it's more a function of mental freedom."

(very pensive, admixed with a dash of sadnes)

"Mental freedom"...

After so many long years of....denial of the full use of a gift; it just astounds me.

No good purpose is served by continually ruminating upon 'what could have been' and suffering through the ensuing anger and bitterness,

I indeed passed through such a phase earlier in transition and with both welcome and relief, consigned it to history, but every rare 'once in a while' I fleetingly recall,...

But a new future awaits to be eagerly unwrapped...

Quote from: Melissa on March 19, 2007, 12:28:56 AM
I have not noticed any changes in these areas.  I've always had extremely good reaction times and motor reflexes.  In fact, I used to brag about how good I was.  Congrats on the improvement Rhonda.  As for spacial awareness, I seem to still be fine in this area as well. :)

Melissa

Spatial Awareness/Ability"

This is one area in which I was concerned that I would suffer degradation or even loss, secondary to HRT induced mental changes.

Spatial ability and stereognosis are extremely useful attributes to possess, while working in aircraft maintenance,...

"Seeing with one's hands"

Your eyes can fool you. Very often what the eyes declare as impossible to do, the hands declare as 'child's play.

To my considerable relief, I noted no decrease in performance in tasks that require a good sense of spatial awareness.

That's a good thing too, as I expect to be working (Lord willing) for many more years; retirement is but a 'pipe dream' at this juncture.
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Melissa

Quote from: LostInTime on March 19, 2007, 06:51:35 AM
I have not noticed a difference for myself either but then I have trained in the martial arts and I also shoot so those abilities have been flexed over a long period of time.
I traine din martial arts as well and this was actually how I got my motor reflexes so fast.  It may explain why I haven't noted much difference.

Quote from: rhonda13000 on March 19, 2007, 10:16:21 AM
"Seeing with one's hands"

Your eyes can fool you. Very often what the eyes declare as impossible to do, the hands declare as 'child's play.

Ah yes, I use that skill as well.  As you can tell I worked on lots of odd skills.  I guess I was just a weird kid.  I actually just used this skill yesterday when I was taking a reset switch on a computer and could not see into the area, but was able to put it into place.  Also I use this sometimes when putting on earrings and I frequently will actually close my eyes and see by feel and notice an improvement.

Melissa
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rhonda13000


This is me for forever
One without a name

These lines the last endeavor
To find the missing lifeline

Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
All I wish is to dream again
My loving heart
Lost in the dark
For hope I`d give my everything"


Nightwish, `Nemo'

That is beautiful.
Quote from: Melissa on March 19, 2007, 10:29:04 AM
Quote from: LostInTime on March 19, 2007, 06:51:35 AM
I have not noticed a difference for myself either but then I have trained in the martial arts and I also shoot so those abilities have been flexed over a long period of time.
I traine din martial arts as well and this was actually how I got my motor reflexes so fast.  It may explain why I haven't noted much difference.

Quote from: rhonda13000 on March 19, 2007, 10:16:21 AM
"Seeing with one's hands"

Your eyes can fool you. Very often what the eyes declare as impossible to do, the hands declare as 'child's play.

Ah yes, I use that skill as well.  As you can tell I worked on lots of odd skills.  I guess I was just a weird kid.  I actually just used this skill yesterday when I was taking a reset switch on a computer and could not see into the area, but was able to put it into place.  Also I use this sometimes when putting on earrings and I frequently will actually close my eyes and see by feel and notice an improvement.

Melissa

You were not a wierd kid, but exceptional, hon.
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