Abstract
The extent to which changes in task-controlled arousal can influence nystagmic output during both angular acceleration and subsequent constant velocity was examined. Two groups of 12 Ss each received a series of 16°/sec.2 angular accelerations during which alertness states were changed from mental arithmetic to reverie or vice versa at selected intervals. Analysis of variance indicated that task-controlled arousal significantly influences nystagmic output both during angular acceleration and during constant velocity. This finding is at variance with predictions based on earlier work which indicated that arousal influenced nystagmic output only during the acceleration.