Abstract
In a visual discrimination task the S’s momentary arousal, reflected by spontaneous changes in skin potential (GSR), contributed significantly to the intra-individual fluctuation of reaction time; chronic anxiety level, measured by an inventory scale, contributed significantly to inter-individual fluctuation. Both high anxiety and arousal were associated with longer reaction time. The present negative relation between response speed and GSR arousal and the previously reported positive relation between response speed and EEG desynchronization may result from different phases of arousal.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Callaway, E. III, & Yeager, C. L. Relationship between reaction time and electro encephalographic alpha phase. Science, 1960, 132, 1765–1766.
Fraisse, P. La période réfractaire psychologique. L’année Psychol., 1957, 2, 315–328.
Lansing, R. W., Schwartz, E., & Lindsley, D. B. Reaction time and EEG activation under alerted and nonalerted conditions. J. exp. Psychol., 1959, 58, 1–7.
Nishisato, S. Factor analytic study of an anxiety scale. Jap. J. Psychol., 1960, 31, 229–236.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was carried out at Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. Thanks are due to Professor Yoshio Sugiyama for his aid.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nishisato, S. Reaction time as a function of arousal and anxiety. Psychon Sci 6, 157–158 (1966). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03328005
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03328005