According to Hicks Law, how does the number of options affect a person's reaction time?

Hicks Law states that the time it takes for an individual to make a decision increases as the number of options available increases. This principle highlights that with more choices, the cognitive load on the individual rises, leading to longer processing times. When faced with multiple options, a person must engage in more complex decision-making processes, weighing different alternatives before arriving at a conclusion. Therefore, as the number of choices expands, the reaction time also extends because the brain needs additional time to evaluate each option and select the appropriate response. This understanding is crucial in scenarios where quick reactions are necessary, such as in defensive tactics, where a practitioner might need to assess several potential responses to a threat rapidly.