1
|
Zhozhikashvili N, Protopova M, Shkurenko T, Arsalidou M, Zakharov I, Kotchoubey B, Malykh S, Pavlov YG. Working memory processes and intrinsic motivation: An EEG study. Int J Psychophysiol 2024; 201:112355. [PMID: 38718899 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2024.112355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Processes typically encompassed by working memory (WM) include encoding, retention, and retrieval of information. Previous research has demonstrated that motivation can influence WM performance, although the specific WM processes affected by motivation are not yet fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of motivation on different WM processes, examining how task difficulty modulates these effects. We hypothesized that motivation level and personality traits of the participants (N = 48, 32 females; mean age = 21) would modulate the parietal alpha and frontal theta electroencephalography (EEG) correlates of WM encoding, retention, and retrieval phases of the Sternberg task. This effect was expected to be more pronounced under conditions of very high task difficulty. We found that increasing difficulty led to reduced accuracy and increased response time, but no significant relationship was found between motivation and accuracy. However, EEG data revealed that motivation influenced WM processes, as indicated by changes in alpha and theta oscillations. Specifically, higher levels of the Resilience trait-associated with mental toughness, hardiness, self-efficacy, achievement motivation, and low anxiety-were related to increased alpha desynchronization during encoding and retrieval. Increased scores of Subjective Motivation to perform well in the task were related to enhanced frontal midline theta during retention. Additionally, these effects were significantly stronger under conditions of high difficulty. These findings provide insights into the specific WM processes that are influenced by motivation, and underscore the importance of considering both task difficulty and intrinsic motivation in WM research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Zhozhikashvili
- Faculty of Social Sciences, HSE University, Moscow, Russia; Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioural Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Maria Protopova
- Center for Language and Brain, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | - Ilya Zakharov
- Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Boris Kotchoubey
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioural Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sergey Malykh
- Developmental Behavioral Genetics Lab, Psychological Institute of Russian Academy of Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - Yuri G Pavlov
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioural Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ji Q, Zhang L, Xu J, Ji P, Song M, Chen Y, Guo L. Associations of mental well-being with higher education-related stress and orientation of the academic goals among nursing students: A cross-sectional study. Int J Ment Health Nurs 2024. [PMID: 38414160 DOI: 10.1111/inm.13313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
To investigate the association between the mental health of nursing students, the stress of higher education, and academic goal orientation. At a medical college, 1170 nursing students volunteered for this cross-sectional survey. The Warwick-Edinburgh Well-being Scale, the Higher Education Stress Scale, and the Academic Goal Orientation Questionnaire were utilised to collect data. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis were all performed to evaluate the data. The significance level for all statistical tests was p < 0.05. A total of 1126 valid samples, with a 96.23% effective recovery rate. The Higher Education Stress Scale score for nursing students was (38.31 ± 8.29), the Academic Goal Orientation Questionnaire result was (49.32 ± 9.62), and the Mental Health Scale value was (31.24 ± 14.00). Overall, there was a strong relationship between the stress associated with higher education, academic goal orientation, and the mental health of nursing students. Therefore, in future interventions, the Chinese government and its relevant educational authorities can enhance nursing students' ability to reasonably regulate stress related to higher education and set clear academic goals by adjusting the strategies for regulating nursing students' academic stress and increasing the number of academic goal-oriented courses to improve their mental health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiqi Ji
- School of Nursing, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou City, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine Nursing, School of Nursing, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu City, China
| | - Jiashuang Xu
- School of Nursing, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou City, China
| | - Pengjuan Ji
- School of Nursing, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou City, China
| | - Miaojing Song
- School of Nursing, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou City, China
| | - Yian Chen
- School of Nursing, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou City, China
| | - Leilei Guo
- School of Nursing, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou City, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Puusepp I, Tammi T, Linnavalli T, Huotilainen M, Laine S, Kuusisto E, Tirri K. Changes in physiological arousal during an arithmetic task: profiles of elementary school students and their associations with mindset, task performance and math grade. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1606. [PMID: 38238409 PMCID: PMC10796377 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51683-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Task-related change in physiological arousal is suggested to reflect active involvement with the task. While studies often examine such task-related changes in arousal as averaged across the entire task, the present study focused on temporal changes in arousal during a task. More specifically, we investigated changes in elementary school students' physiological arousal during an arithmetic task and associations between these changes and students' mindset, performance on the task, and math grades. We used a person-oriented approach to analyze the tonic electrodermal activity of 86 fourth graders, recorded while they were working on an arithmetic task. With model-based clustering of students' on-task electrodermal activity, we identified three groups of students with differing temporal dynamics of physiological arousal during the task: Increasing Arousal, Decreasing Arousal and Decreasing and Increasing Arousal. The Decreasing Arousal profile contained more students classified as holding a Fixed Mindset Tendency than would be expected if physiological profile membership and mindset tendency were independent. The Increasing Arousal profile performed better on the task than the Decreasing Arousal profile. No association was found with math grades. These results provide a new insight into individual differences in temporal patterns of on-task physiological arousal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ita Puusepp
- Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki, Siltavuorenpenger 5 A, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Tuisku Tammi
- Cognitive Science, Department of Digital Humanities, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tanja Linnavalli
- Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki, Siltavuorenpenger 5 A, Helsinki, Finland
- Cognitive Brain Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Minna Huotilainen
- Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki, Siltavuorenpenger 5 A, Helsinki, Finland
- Cognitive Brain Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sonja Laine
- Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki, Siltavuorenpenger 5 A, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Elina Kuusisto
- Faculty of Education and Culture, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Kirsi Tirri
- Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki, Siltavuorenpenger 5 A, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kiuru N, Malmberg LE, Eklund K, Penttonen M, Ahonen T, Hirvonen R. How are learning experiences and task properties associated with adolescents’ emotions and psychophysiological states? CONTEMPORARY EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cedpsych.2022.102095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
5
|
Silvia PJ, McHone AN, Mironovová Z, Eddington KM, Harper KL, Sperry SH, Kwapil TR. RZ Interval as an Impedance Cardiography Indicator of Effort-Related Cardiac Sympathetic Activity. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 2021; 46:83-90. [PMID: 33170410 PMCID: PMC7880868 DOI: 10.1007/s10484-020-09493-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Research on effort and motivation commonly assesses how the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system affects the cardiovascular system. The cardiac pre-ejection period (PEP), assessed via impedance cardiography, is a common outcome, but assessing PEP requires identifying subtle points on cardiac waveforms. The present research examined the psychometric value of the RZ interval (RZ), which has recently been proposed as an indicator of sympathetic activity, for effort research. Also known as the initial systolic time interval (ISTI), RZ is the time (in ms) between the ECG R peak and the dZ/dt Z peak. Unlike PEP, RZ involves salient waveform points that are easily and reliably identified. Data from two experiments evaluated the suitability of RZ for effort paradigms and compared it to a popular automated PEP method. In Studies 1 (n = 89) and 2 (n = 71), participants completed a standard appetitive task in which each correct response earned a small amount of cash. As expected, incentives significantly affected PEP and RZ in both experiments. PEP and RZ were highly correlated (all rs ≥ 0.89), and RZ consistently yielded a larger effect size than PEP. In Study 3, a quantitative synthesis of the experiments indicated that the effect size of RZ's response to incentives (Hedges's g = 0.432 [0.310, 0.554]) was roughly 15% larger than PEP's effect size (g = 0.376 [0.256, 0.496]). RZ thus appears promising for future research on sympathetic aspects of effort-related cardiac activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Silvia
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA.
| | - Ashley N McHone
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Zuzana Mironovová
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Kari M Eddington
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Kelly L Harper
- Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, National Center for PTSD, Boston, USA
| | - Sarah H Sperry
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, USA
| | - Thomas R Kwapil
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Papousek I, Wimmer S, Lackner HK, Schulter G, Perchtold CM, Paechter M. Trait positive affect and students’ prefrontal EEG alpha asymmetry responses during a simulated exam situation. Biol Psychol 2019; 148:107762. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2019.107762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
|
7
|
Lackner HK, Papousek I, Schmid-Zalaudek K, Cervar-Zivkovic M, Kolovetsiou-Kreiner V, Nonn O, Lucovnik M, Pfniß I, Moertl MG. Disturbed Cardiorespiratory Adaptation in Preeclampsia: Return to Normal Stress Regulation Shortly after Delivery? Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20133149. [PMID: 31252672 PMCID: PMC6651868 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20133149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Women with pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia appear to be at increased risk of metabolic and vascular diseases in later life. Previous research has also indicated disturbed cardiorespiratory adaptation during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to follow up on the physiological stress response in preeclampsia several weeks postpartum. A standardized laboratory test was used to illustrate potential deviations in the physiological stress responding to mildly stressful events of the kind and intensity in which they regularly occur in further everyday life after pregnancy. Fifteen to seventeen weeks postpartum, 35 women previously affected by preeclampsia (19 mild, 16 severe preeclampsia), 38 women after uncomplicated pregnancies, and 51 age-matched healthy controls were exposed to a self-relevant stressor in a standardized stress-reactivity protocol. Reactivity of blood pressure, heart rate, stroke index, and systemic vascular resistance index as well as baroreceptor sensitivity were analyzed. In addition, the mutual adjustment of blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration, partitioned for influences of the sympathetic and the parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system, were quantified by determining their phase synchronization. Findings indicated moderately elevated blood pressure levels in the nonpathological range, reduced stroke volume, and elevated systemic vascular resistance in women previously affected by preeclampsia. Despite these moderate abnormalities, at the time of testing, women with previous preeclampsia did not differ from the other groups in their physiological response patterns to acute stress. Furthermore, no differences between early, preterm, and term preeclampsia or mild and severe preeclampsia were observed at the time of testing. The findings suggest that the overall cardiovascular responses to moderate stressors return to normal in women who experience a pregnancy with preeclampsia a few weeks after delivery, while the operating point of the arterial baroreflex is readjusted to a higher pressure. Yet, their regulation mechanisms may remain different.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helmut K Lackner
- Division of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Ilona Papousek
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology Unit, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Karin Schmid-Zalaudek
- Division of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Mila Cervar-Zivkovic
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria.
| | | | - Olivia Nonn
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Miha Lucovnik
- Department of Perinatology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Isabella Pfniß
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria.
| | - Manfred G Moertl
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Center, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Aggressive behavior after social exclusion is linked with the spontaneous initiation of more action-oriented coping immediately following the exclusion episode. Physiol Behav 2018; 195:142-150. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2018] [Revised: 06/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
|
9
|
Lackner HK, Moertl MG, Schmid-Zalaudek K, Lucovnik M, Weiss EM, Kolovetsiou-Kreiner V, Papousek I. History of Preeclampsia Adds to the Deleterious Effect of Chronic Stress on the Cardiac Ability to Flexibly Adapt to Challenge. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1237. [PMID: 30233410 PMCID: PMC6129979 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia, a pregnancy-specific disorder, presents a major health problem during gestation, but is also associated with increased risk for cardiovascular complications in later life. We aimed to investigate whether chronic stress experience and preeclampsia may have additive adverse effects on the cardiac ability to flexibly adapt to challenge, that is, to mount an appropriately vigorous heart rate response to an acute psychological challenge, or whether they may perhaps have synergistic effects (e.g., mutual augmentation of effects). Blunted cardiac responding to challenge has been linked to poor health outcomes in the longer term. Women previously affected by preeclampsia and women after uncomplicated pregnancies were tested 15-17 weeks post-partum in a standardized stress-reactivity protocol, while cardiovascular variables were simultaneously recorded. Changes in heart rate and blood pressure in response to the stressor were analyzed with regard to the effects of history of preeclampsia and chronic stress experience. Findings indicated blunted cardiac responses in women with higher chronic stress experience (p = 0.020) and, independently from that, in women with a history of preeclampsia (p = 0.018), pointing to an additive nature of the effects of preeclampsia and chronic stress on impaired cardiovascular functioning. Consequently, if both are present, a history of preeclampsia may add to the already deleterious effects of the experience of chronic stress. The additive nature of the effects suggests that stress-reducing interventions, albeit they will not eliminate the heightened cardiovascular risk in patients with a history of preeclampsia, may improve their overall prognosis by avoiding further accumulation of risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helmut K. Lackner
- Section of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Manfred G. Moertl
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Center, Klagenfurt, Austria
| | - Karin Schmid-Zalaudek
- Section of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Miha Lucovnik
- Department of Perinatology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Elisabeth M. Weiss
- Institute of Psychology, Biological Psychology Unit, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Ilona Papousek
- Institute of Psychology, Biological Psychology Unit, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wimmer S, Lackner HK, Papousek I, Paechter M. Goal Orientations and Activation of Approach Versus Avoidance Motivation While Awaiting an Achievement Situation in the Laboratory. Front Psychol 2018; 9:1552. [PMID: 30210395 PMCID: PMC6121194 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
While some students try to give their best in an achievement situation, others show disengagement and just want to get the situation over and done with. The present study investigates the role of students' tendencies for approach or avoidance motivation while anticipating tasks and the corresponding activation of the approach/avoidance motivational system as indicated by transient changes of EEG alpha asymmetry. Overall, 62 students (50 female; age: M = 23.8, SD = 3.5) completed a goal orientation questionnaire (learning goals, performance-approach, performance-avoidance, and work avoidance). They joined a laboratory experiment where EEG was recorded during resting condition as well as when students were anticipating tasks. Standard multiple regression analysis showed that higher values on performance-avoidance were related to a higher activation of the approach system whereas higher values on work avoidance were related to a higher activation of the avoidance system. Results question present assumptions about avoidance related goal orientations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sigrid Wimmer
- Educational Psychology Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Helmut K. Lackner
- Section of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Ilona Papousek
- Biological Psychology Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Manuela Paechter
- Educational Psychology Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lackner HK, Reiter-Scheidl K, Aydin N, Perchtold CM, Weiss EM, Papousek I. Laughter as a social rejection cue: Influence of prior explicit experience of social rejection on cardiac signs of "freezing". Int J Psychophysiol 2018; 128:1-6. [PMID: 29604307 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The study aimed at investigating the immediate cardiac effect of the sudden perception of other people's laughter after experimentally manipulating healthy participants' proneness to experience laughter as a cue of social threat. We expected that participants would show cardiac signs of freezing (i.e., sustained heart rate deceleration immediately after perception of the laughter) after prior social rejection but not or less so after prior acceptance, due to an increased bias to perceive the ambiguous social signal as a cue of social threat and rejection after rejection had been primed. Contrary to expectations, the perception of other people's laughter elicited a decelerative (freezing) response regardless of whether it was preceded by the experience of social rejection or acceptance. The response was prolonged in participants who had been accepted beforehand compared to those who had been rejected. The findings indicate that, given a relevant social context, other people's laughter can be a powerful cue of social threat and rejection also in healthy individuals. Prolonged heart rate deceleration after an ambiguous social signal may facilitate the processing of significant social information in the socially threatening situation. The study adds to the literature rendering the course of the immediate transient heart rate response a useful tool in social rejection research. Additionally, the findings suggested that in some cases the further progress of transient heart rate changes in more extended time-windows (about 30 s) may provide additional relevant information about the processing of social cues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nilüfer Aydin
- Department of Psychology, Social Psychology Unit, University of Klagenfurt, Austria
| | - Corinna M Perchtold
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology Unit, University of Graz, Austria
| | - Elisabeth M Weiss
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology Unit, University of Graz, Austria
| | - Ilona Papousek
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology Unit, University of Graz, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
May RW, Sanchez-Gonzalez MA, Seibert GS, Samaan JS, Fincham FD. Impact of a motivated performance task on autonomic and hemodynamic cardiovascular reactivity. Stress 2016; 19:280-6. [PMID: 27295199 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2016.1191467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Motivated performance (MP) tasks include mental stressors characterized by a high degree of motivation, individual engagement, and sympathetic overstimulation. It is therefore important to document the independent influence of motivation apart from engagement on markers of cardiovascular autonomic modulation, including vasomotor tone (low-frequency systolic blood pressure, LFSBP), blood pressure homeostasis (baroreflex sensitivity, BRS), and myocardial oxygen consumption (rate pressure product, RPP). Accordingly, an arithmetic task (AT) was used to manipulate motivation to evaluate its impact on cardiovascular reactivity. Forty-two young adults (Mage = 20.21 years, SD = 2.09) qualified for the study. After a 10-min resting period, electrocardiogram and finger beat-to-beat blood pressure were recorded at three distinct 5-min stages: baseline (BASE), AT, and recovery (REC). Prior to AT initiation, participants were randomized into two groups based on directions stating that the AT task was either designed to be entertaining and fun (low MP, LMP) or a test diagnostic of one's intelligence (high MP, HMP). Independent of task engagement ratings, motivation to complete the AT task as well as solution success was significantly greater in the HMP than the LMP condition. Regarding physiological parameters, two (LMP vs. HMP) × three (BASE, AT, REC) repeated measures ANOVAs revealed no significant baseline differences but a significant higher order interaction indicating that in comparison to LMP, individuals in the HMP condition had significantly higher vasomotor tone and myocardial oxygen consumption but not BRS. Greater motivation during a performance task may provide the substrate for the development of adverse cardiovascular events by increasing sympathetic activity and ultimately increasing myocardial oxygen demand which could lead to acute coronary syndromes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ross W May
- a Family Institute, Florida State University , Tallahassee , FL , USA
| | - Marcos A Sanchez-Gonzalez
- a Family Institute, Florida State University , Tallahassee , FL , USA
- b Division of Clinical & Translational Research , Larkin Community Hospital , South Miami , FL , USA
| | - Gregory S Seibert
- a Family Institute, Florida State University , Tallahassee , FL , USA
| | - John S Samaan
- b Division of Clinical & Translational Research , Larkin Community Hospital , South Miami , FL , USA
- c Department of Psychiatry , Larkin Community Hospital , South Miami , FL , USA
| | - Frank D Fincham
- a Family Institute, Florida State University , Tallahassee , FL , USA
| |
Collapse
|