Gina M. Lyons

Publication Date

1980

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

McCanne, Thomas R.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Psychology

LCSH

Intelligence tests; Psychophysiology

Abstract

Heart rate, respiration rate, and chin electromyographic activity were monitored while 30 female subjects performed a modified version of the Picture Completion Test. The heart rate results suggested that the following may be predictive of correctly solving the test stimuli: an anticipatory deceleration in heart rate just prior to stimulus onset; higher heart rates during stimulus presentation; and greater amounts of heart rate fluctuation prior to stimulus onset. Only a few parallels were noted between the heart rate data and the results for the somatic- muscular variables. Specifically, the respiration results indicated that among stimuli presented without warning, higher respiration rates were observed during the presentation of correctly solved stimuli than during incorrectly solved stimuli. Also, the chin electromyographic activity results revealed greater amounts of chin EMG activity during the latter portion of stimulus presentation for correctly solved stimuli as compared to incorrectly solved stimuli. The results were consistent with the Laceys' hypothesis regarding the relationship between heart rate changes and attention. However, only limited support was provided for Obrist's contention that changes in heart rate are coupled to somatic-muscular responses.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

vii, 68 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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