The Development and Testing of a Protocol for Measuring Autonomic Reactivity.

Abstract

Sixty male faculty and student volunteers were tested for autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity under relaxed, active task (Stroop color-word problems combined with a go/no go vigilance task) and passive task (cold pressor) conditions, and completed questionnaires on Type A characteristics and behaviors/symptoms often associated with stress. Physiological variables including frontails muscle tension, skin temperature, heart rate, R-P interval and skin potential were measured over 30 second trial intervals for 5 trials (Relaxl, Active Task, Relax 2, Passive Task, Relax 3) per session and 2 Test-retest reliabilities for these variables ranged from r=.45 to r=.71. As predicted, Type A characteristics were associated with greater task induced ANS reactivity (p less than .05). The study also examined specific ANS reactivity patterns such as task induced heart rate changes. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1982
Accession Number
ADA123124

Entities

People

  • Craig E. Daniels

Organizations

  • University of Hartford

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Autonomic Nervous System
  • Blood
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Containers
  • Data Acquisition
  • Electrical Equipment
  • Electrodes
  • Heart Diseases
  • Heart Rate
  • Measurement
  • Medical Personnel
  • Myocardial Ischemia
  • Nervous System
  • Standards

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience