Available May 2026
Contact Time and Contact Time Variation are additional metrics that add another layer to Soma, extending how we interpret performance.
Reaction Time measures how long it takes to detect, process, and respond to a stimulus. However, that response is made up of multiple stages, including the motor action itself.
Contact Time isolates that final stage, focusing specifically on how the movement is executed once the decision has been made.
Contact Time
Contact Time measures how long the athlete maintains contact with the screen during each response.
It reflects the motor execution phase of performance. In neuroscience terms, this is the part where the brain has already made a decision and is now carrying out the movement through the muscles .
A stable Contact Time indicates that the athlete is producing responses in a controlled and repeatable way. As performance becomes more refined, Contact Time may reduce slightly, reflecting more efficient execution.
An increase in Contact Time suggests the movement is taking longer to complete. This often indicates increased effort, reduced sharpness, or the system working harder to maintain output under load.
Contact Time Variation
Contact Time Variation measures how consistent that execution is across responses.
Reaction time research shows that variability between responses often reflects instability in attention or control . The same principle applies here, but at the level of execution.
Low Contact Time Variation means the athlete is producing movements in a consistent and controlled way.
High Contact Time Variation means the execution of responses is inconsistent, even if average performance looks stable.
This is important because variability is often where early breakdown appears. The athlete may still be performing at the same level, but the system is becoming less stable underneath.
How to interpret it
Contact Time should always be read alongside Reaction Time.
If Reaction Time and Contact Time are both stable, the athlete is performing efficiently and with control.
If Reaction Time is stable but Contact Time Variation is elevated, the athlete is maintaining performance, but execution is inconsistent. This reflects ongoing adaptation rather than breakdown.
If both Reaction Time Variation and Contact Time Variation are high, the system is unstable. This may indicate fatigue, reduced focus, or difficulty handling the current load.
If Reaction Time slows and Contact Time increases, the system is under strain. The athlete is both processing more slowly and requiring more effort to execute responses.
Key takeaway
Reaction Time reflects how quickly a decision is made.
Contact Time reflects how that decision is executed.