Effect of Anxiety and Stress on Reaction Time and Temporal Generalization

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Abstract
Fifty-four college students of both sexes, selected from the high, middle, and lower portions of the Taylor MAS distribution, were given 16 simple RT trials. The stimulus, consisting of either strong or weak shock, or a vibratory stimulus applied to the palm of the hand, was presented at uniform 12-sec. intervals. Four 7-trial generalization test blocks, separated by 4 training trials, followed. Testing consisted of presenting the appropriate stimulus at 5.5-, 7.0-, 9.0-, 12.0-, 15.5-, 20.0-, and 26-sec intervals, the order varying randomly from S to S and across test blocks. High anxiety Ss responded faster than other Ss only under shock conditions, supporting a “reactive” interpretation of MA scores. Smooth bi-directional temporal generalization gradients were obtained, but their slopes were unaffected by differences in anxiety or by the interaction of anxiety and stimulus intensity. Stimulus intensity had little effect on slope of gradient.

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