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Influence of control and physical effort on cardiovascular reactivity to a video game task
Author(s) -
Weinstein Suzanne E.,
Quigley Karen S.,
Mordkoff J. Toby
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/1469-8986.3950591
Subject(s) - reactivity (psychology) , psychology , task (project management) , noise (video) , control (management) , contingency , video game , audiology , cognitive psychology , developmental psychology , social psychology , medicine , multimedia , computer science , linguistics , philosophy , alternative medicine , management , pathology , artificial intelligence , economics , image (mathematics)
This study investigated the influences of both perceived control and physical effort on cardiovascular reactivity. Undergraduates (N = 32) played a video game task interrupted by aversive noise. Perceived control of the noise was manipulated by instructions indicating the presence or absence of a contingency between performance and noise presentations. Physical effort was manipulated by controlling the physical force required to perform the task. There was a significant main effect of control on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and total peripheral resistance (TPR), with both increasing more during low than high control conditions. The results suggest that high perceived control over aversive noise in an effortful task reduces SBP and TPR reactivity relative to low perceived control. The results are consistent with the idea that control buffers the reactivity associated with task performance under aversive conditions.