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A subtle threat cue, heart rate variability, and cognitive performance
Author(s) -
Elliot Andrew J.,
Payen Vincent,
Brisswalter Jeanick,
Cury Francois,
Thayer Julian F.
Publication year - 2011
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/j.1469-8986.2011.01216.x
Subject(s) - psychology , heart rate variability , cognition , context (archaeology) , reactivity (psychology) , achromatic lens , vagal tone , chromatic scale , audiology , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , cognitive psychology , developmental psychology , heart rate , neuroscience , medicine , paleontology , physics , alternative medicine , mathematics , pathology , combinatorics , astronomy , blood pressure , biology
This research was designed to extend the literature on heart rate variability (HRV) in cognitive performance contexts by examining whether a subtle threat cue (the color red) in a test environment influences HRV reactivity and whether HRV reactivity is associated with change in cognitive performance. Thirty‐three participants took an IQ test, briefly viewed red or a chromatic or achromatic control color, and then took a parallel form of the IQ test. High frequency (HF)‐HRV (often referred to as respiratory sinus arrhythmia), was assessed before and after the color manipulation. Results indicated that participants who viewed red (relative to a control color) exhibited a decrease in HF‐HRV and that decreased HF‐HRV was associated with worse IQ performance. These findings demonstrate the sensitivity of HRV as an index of effective and efficient emotion regulation in an achievement context.