We ran two experiments to investigate whether peripheral arterial tone reflects changes in mental effort. Finger pulse wave amplitude, interpulse interval, and pulse variability in the mid- and high-frequency bands were recorded by means of a newly developed finger plethysmograph during both rest and cognitive performance. Using a modified version of the Sternberg memory task, we selectively manipulated either the difficulty of the task (Experiment 1) or the subjects' level of engagement in the task (Experiment 2). We found a significant difference in finger pulse wave amplitude between rest and task periods, suggesting that the measure reflects changes in sympathetic activity due to task engagement. In addition, our results suggest that reduced pulse wave amplitude, signaling vasoconstriction, occurs when subjects are investing effort.

Effects of task difficulty and invested mental effort on peripheral vasoconstriction / Iani, Cristina; D., Gopher; P., Lavie. - In: PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY. - ISSN 0048-5772. - STAMPA. - 41:5(2004), pp. 789-798. [10.1111/j.1469-8986.2004.00200.x]

Effects of task difficulty and invested mental effort on peripheral vasoconstriction

IANI, Cristina;
2004

Abstract

We ran two experiments to investigate whether peripheral arterial tone reflects changes in mental effort. Finger pulse wave amplitude, interpulse interval, and pulse variability in the mid- and high-frequency bands were recorded by means of a newly developed finger plethysmograph during both rest and cognitive performance. Using a modified version of the Sternberg memory task, we selectively manipulated either the difficulty of the task (Experiment 1) or the subjects' level of engagement in the task (Experiment 2). We found a significant difference in finger pulse wave amplitude between rest and task periods, suggesting that the measure reflects changes in sympathetic activity due to task engagement. In addition, our results suggest that reduced pulse wave amplitude, signaling vasoconstriction, occurs when subjects are investing effort.
2004
41
5
789
798
Effects of task difficulty and invested mental effort on peripheral vasoconstriction / Iani, Cristina; D., Gopher; P., Lavie. - In: PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY. - ISSN 0048-5772. - STAMPA. - 41:5(2004), pp. 789-798. [10.1111/j.1469-8986.2004.00200.x]
Iani, Cristina; D., Gopher; P., Lavie
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Iani-et-al_P04.pdf

Solo gestori archivio

Tipologia: Versione pubblicata dall'editore
Dimensione 176.19 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
176.19 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

Licenza Creative Commons
I metadati presenti in IRIS UNIMORE sono rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal, mentre i file delle pubblicazioni sono rilasciati con licenza Attribuzione 4.0 Internazionale (CC BY 4.0), salvo diversa indicazione.
In caso di violazione di copyright, contattare Supporto Iris

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/307051
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 14
  • Scopus 82
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 69
social impact