Responses during speech: Physiological reactivity and subjective tension, and relationship between these responses.

Abstract

  We investigated the physiological and subjective responses associated with a speech task, measured at baseline, anticipation, speech, and post-speech conditions. We also examined the relationship between physiological and subjective responses during each condition. We employed R-R interval and finger skin temperature obtained by thermography as physiological measures. The Physiological Tension Scale and Cognitive Tension Scale extracted from the Relaxation Inventory (Crist, Rickard, Prentice-Dunn, & Barker, 1989) were used as subjective measures. Twenty-five healthy adults participated in this study. At the anticipation condition, participants showed significant increases of both Physiological Tension Scale and Cognitive Tension Scale scores, and decrease of finger skin temperature. During the speech task, Physiological Tension Scale and Cognitive Tension Scale scores increased while finger skin temperature decreased compared to the anticipation condition, and a remarkable decrease of R-R interval was observed. In the post-speech condition, the values of all measures reverted to baseline levels except finger skin temperature. Correlation study among the parameters showed that in the actual speech task, the relationship between finger skin temperature and R-R interval was intensified, and the relationship between subjective tension and physiological activation was slightly increased. The present results indicated increases of subjective tension and physiological tension during a speech task. Furthermore, the results suggested that physiological tension was not necessarily associated with actual change in heart rate. This study also revealed that finger skin temperature recorded by thermography was a more sensitive physiological indicator than R-R interval. Considering applicability and sensitivity, thermography may be a convenient instrument of physiological marker for the study of speech.