Cardiac activity and information processing: The effects of stimulus significance, and detection and response requirements

In 2 experiments, measures of heart rate and EMG activity were obtained from 40 male undergraduates while they performed 2 series of trials involving a sequential information processing task. Each trial consisted of a warning light, 3 successive tones, and a respond light, separated by 6-sec interva...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance 1975-11, Vol.1 (4), p.418-428
Main Authors: Coles, Michael G, Duncan-Johnson, Connie C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Attention - physiology
Auditory Perception - physiology
Cognitive Processes
Decision Making - physiology
Discrimination (Psychology) - physiology
Electromyography
Heart - physiology
Heart Rate
Human
Humans
Male
Meaningfulness
Stimulus Parameters
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Summary:In 2 experiments, measures of heart rate and EMG activity were obtained from 40 male undergraduates while they performed 2 series of trials involving a sequential information processing task. Each trial consisted of a warning light, 3 successive tones, and a respond light, separated by 6-sec intervals. In Exp I, Ss responded only if the 3 tones were of different frequencies. Accelerative heart-rate responses to the last tone increased as a function of the significance of that tone. Subsequent cardiac decelerations were only observed if the S was preparing to make a response. Results were replicated in Exp II in which Ss responded only if 2 of the preceding tones were of the same frequency. EMG activity was not significantly affected by stimulus significance or response anticipation. The data indicate that cardiac acceleration and deceleration reflect 2 independent psychological processes, associated with information-processing and decision-making activity on the one hand, and preparatory activity on the other. (25 ref)
ISSN:0096-1523
1939-1277
DOI:10.1037/0096-1523.1.4.418