Soma Analytics lets you view performance in two ways: Mean and Minute on Minute (MoM).
Both are valuable, but they show different parts of the story.
Mean Data
Mean shows the overall result. It gives you the average performance across the entire task and reflects how the athlete performed on average. However, the mean alone does not explain how that average was created.
Minute on Minute (MoM) Data
MoM reveals what happened inside the task. It shows how performance changed as the task progressed, when the athlete stayed sharp, when fatigue appeared, and how it shifted over time.
Use both to see the full picture.
Mean tells you what happened.
MoM tells you how it happened.
In this article, you will learn how to interpret mean and minute on minute (MoM) data for each metric so you can better understand performance trends, adaptation, and the impact of training.
Reaction Time (RT)
Mean Data:
Shows the athlete’s overall response speed. A lower mean reaction time means faster responses, but it can hide inconsistency or random spikes.
MoM Data:
Tracks how reaction time changes each minute.
Increase: Fatigue or focus shift toward accuracy.
Decrease: Adapting or task too easy.
Fluctuation: Inconsistent focus or overload.
Stable: Balanced response speed and control.
Speed (1000/RT)
Mean Data:
Represents the inverse of reaction time, offering a measure of response quickness. Because it’s a reciprocal transformation, it amplifies small improvements in fast responses but is more sensitive to outliers and lapses.
MoM Data:
Shows how response speed fluctuates minute by minute.
Increase: Faster neural processing and improved alertness.
Decrease: Fatigue, reduced focus, or a strategic shift toward accuracy.
Fluctuation: Inconsistent performance or overload.
Stable: Balanced response speed and control.
Reaction Time vs Speed
Reaction Time and Speed both measure how quickly an athlete responds, but they represent the data in different ways.
Reaction Time (RT) shows how long it takes to respond.
Lower values mean faster reactions and shorter decision time.
Speed (1000/RT) is a statistical transformation of Reaction Time.
Higher values mean faster processing speed. It amplifies differences in both faster and slower performances, making small changes easier to detect.
Because Speed is more sensitive to outliers and momentary lapses, it’s best used alongside RT. Use Reaction Time for overall clarity and Speed to identify subtle shifts in focus, fatigue, or cognitive adaptation.
Variation (CV)
Mean Data:
Measures consistency across all trials. Lower variation = more reliable performance.
MoM Data:
Reveals when stability breaks down.
Increase: Fatigue or over-challenge.
Decrease: Adaptation and control.
Fluctuation: Inconsistent performance.
Stable: Well-balanced workload.
RCS (Rate Correct Score)
Mean Data:
Shows how many correct responses per second. Balances speed and accuracy into one efficiency score.
MoM Data:
Shows how efficiency changes through the task.
Increase: Strong adaptation and focus.
Decrease: Fatigue or accuracy bias.
Fluctuation: Inconsistent performance.
Stable: Adapted and efficient.
Accuracy
Mean Data:
Shows how many responses were correct overall. Higher accuracy means greater precision and fewer errors.
MoM Data:
Reveals changes in precision across the session.
Increase: Improved focus and control.
Decrease: Fatigue or overload.
Fluctuation: Inconsistent engagement.
Stable: Adapted performance.
rMSSD
Mean Data:
Represents short-term heart rate variability and parasympathetic recovery. Higher rMSSD reflects good recovery and strong autonomic control.
MoM Data:
Shows how recovery capacity changes in real time.
Increase: Good recovery response and resilience.
Decrease: Signs of accumulated fatigue or stress.
Fluctuation: Inconsistent recovery or external stress factors.
Stable: Balanced recovery and well-managed load.
SDNN
Mean Data:
Represents overall heart rate variability and system adaptability. Higher SDNN reflects good cardiovascular balance and stress tolerance.
MoM Data:
Tracks real-time nervous system balance.
Increase: Good adaptability
Decrease: Fatigue or elevated stress
Fluctuation: Unstable response or poor recovery
Stable: Consistent regulation and balance
Data Needs Context
All cognitive data needs context. One session does not tell you much. Trends across a full block tell you the truth.
Across a four-week plan, you should see three clear signs of adaptation:
→ Reaction Time gets faster
→ Accuracy increases
→ Variation decreases
When these patterns appear, the athlete is adapting to the load.
Weeks 1 to 3 usually look chaotic. You will see spikes in reaction time, swings in variation, and changes in accuracy. This is normal. It means the brain is being challenged. Do not adjust the plan too early. This volatility is part of the adaptation process.
By Week 4 the numbers should settle. You should see:
→ Faster and steady reaction time
→ Stable or rising accuracy
→ Variation trending down
If this does not happen, the load was not right. It may have been too easy, too hard, or not progressed enough.
In-season data should look different. When the goal is freshness, the numbers should be stable:
→ Reaction time steady
→ Accuracy steady
→ Variation steady
→ MoM data smooth
Large spikes during in-season usually mean the athlete is being overloaded.
Always judge progress using trends, not a single session. The best time to evaluate a plan is Week 3 when the noise has faded and patterns are clear.
Simple rule:
If the data stabilises and improves, keep going.
If it never settles, adjust the load.
Reaction Time (RT)
Type | What It Shows | What It Means | What to Watch |
Mean | How fast the athlete reacts on average. | Lower numbers mean faster reactions, but can hide inconsistency. | Check with Variation to see if the athlete is fast and stable. |
MoM | How reaction speed changes each minute. | Going up means fatigue or extra focus on accuracy. | Watch for slowing trends that suggest mental fatigue. |
Speed (1000/RT)
Type | What It Shows | What It Means | What to Watch |
Mean | The athlete’s response quickness (inverse of RT). | Higher values mean faster cognitive processing and shorter reaction time. | Compare with RT and Accuracy to confirm the athlete is fast and controlled. |
MoM | How response speed changes each minute. | Going up means better focus and alertness. Going down means fatigue or cautious responding. Stable means efficient control. | Watch for slowing trends that suggest mental fatigue. |
Variation (CV)
Type | What It Shows | What It Means | What to Watch |
Mean | How consistent the athlete is across all trials. | Lower variation means more stable, controlled performance. | High variation suggests fatigue or poor control. |
MoM | How stability changes through the task. | Going up means the athlete is struggling or overloaded. | Variation tells you if the brain is coping with the task. |
RCS (Rate Correct Score)
Type | What It Shows | What It Means | What to Watch |
Mean | How many correct responses per second. | Combines speed and accuracy into one score. Higher is better. | Use RCS to see how efficient the athlete is overall. |
MoM | How efficiency changes through the session. | Going up means strong focus and adaptation. | Rising RCS over time shows adaptation to cognitive load. |
Accuracy
Type | What It Shows | What It Means | What to Watch |
Mean | The percentage of correct responses. | Higher accuracy means better precision and fewer mistakes. | Low accuracy with fast RT means impulsive responding. |
MoM | How accuracy changes during the task. | Going up means improved focus. | Stable accuracy during fatigue shows resilience. |
rMSSD
Type | What It Shows | What It Means | What to Watch |
Mean | Short-term heart rate variability (recovery quality). | Higher values mean better recovery and stronger nervous system balance. | Low values can show stress buildup or incomplete recovery. |
MoM | Short-term heart rate variability (recovery quality). | Going up means good recovery response. Going down means fatigue or stress. Stable means well-managed load. | Watch for drops showing accumulated fatigue or poor recovery. |
SDNN
Type | What It Shows | What It Means | What to Watch |
Mean | Overall heart rate variability and stress tolerance. | Higher values mean good system balance and adaptability. | Consistently low SDNN can signal overtraining or poor recovery. |
MoM | How HRV balance shifts through the task. | Going up means good adaptability. Going down means stress or fatigue. Stable means balanced regulation. | Watch for downward trends that suggest mounting stress or poor recovery control. |
Quick Summary
Metric | Mean Tells You | MoM Tells You | Watch For |
Reaction Time (RT) | Average response speed. | Fatigue or adaptation during the task. | Slowing trends that suggest mental fatigue. |
Speed (1000/RT) | The athlete’s response quickness (inverse of RT). | Fatigue or adaptation during the task. | Slowing trends that show fatigue or disengagement. |
Variation (CV) | Performance consistency. | Stability under load. | Rising variation that signals fatigue or poor control. |
RCS (Rate Correct Score) | Efficiency combining speed and accuracy. | How well the athlete sustains efficiency under load. | Drops showing fatigue or accuracy bias. |
Accuracy | Precision and error control. | Focus and stability across time. | Declining accuracy during fatigue. |
rMSSD | Recovery and short-term HRV balance. | Real-time recovery response. | Drops that indicate stress or accumulated fatigue. |
SDNN | Overall HRV and stress tolerance. | Nervous system adaptability. | Downward trends showing poor recovery or overload. |
Reminder:
To track HRV metrics (rMSSD, SDNN) and BPM, connect a Polar H10 heart strap to Soma NPT.
Useful Links
A complete guide to reading Reaction Time, Accuracy, Variation, RCS, Speed, and HRV using both Mean and MoM data so you can track fatigue, adaptation, and control across a block.
Learn what high and low values really mean in Reaction Time, Speed, Accuracy, Variation, and RCS so you can read patterns fast, spot fatigue, and make clear training decisions.