Prediction and control as determinants of behavioural uncertainty: effects on task performance and heart rate reactivity

Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Science : the Official Journal of the Pavlovian Society
S R Baker, D Stephenson

Abstract

Control or control-belief is often viewed as being directly instrumental in facilitating coping mechanisms in aversive situations, and yet the empirical evidence for the beneficial effects of control is inconclusive. In this study we investigated the role of predictability in determining the effects of perceived control during an aversive reaction time task. Fifty-six subjects were allocated to one of four groups; predictable-control, predictable-no control, unpredictable-control, unpredictable-no control. In the predictable conditions, subjects could temporally predict the occurrence of an aversive noise. In the perceived control conditions, duration of the aversive tone was contingent on subject's performance. All subjects were matched in terms of the nature of the task and in the number and time of receipt of both the warning signal and noise. Heart rate reactivity and two performance parameters were measured, reaction time and performance increase. Both predictability and control-belief led to a reduction in heart rate reactivity, although they appeared to function independently and at different points in the sequence of events. That is, predictability or perceived control was sufficient to mitigate the effects of an aversi...Continue Reading

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Citations

Oct 28, 2004·Behavioral Neuroscience·Christian GrillonJean Milstein
Dec 17, 2015·Stress : the International Journal on the Biology of Stress·Michael M HavranekErich Seifritz
Aug 4, 2012·Journal of Anxiety Disorders·Jeffrey M LohrGerald M Rosen
Mar 30, 2016·Nature Communications·Archy O de BerkerSven Bestmann
Jun 1, 2005·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Hymie Anisman, Kim Matheson
Oct 18, 2016·The Journal of Psychology·Lisa Thomson RossMarina Garofano
May 10, 2008·Stress : the International Journal on the Biology of Stress·Kathy MichaudHymie Anisman
Jun 18, 2010·The Journal of Small Animal Practice·L FerasinC J L Little
Aug 1, 2020·Globalization and Health·Álex Escolà-GascónJosep Gallifa

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