Abstract
Valins (1966) showed that false heart rate (HR) feedback during sexual female picture presentation can change attractiveness for their attractiveness, indicating that a physiological response is not necessary for emotional arousal. On the other hand, Stern et al. (1972) executed the same experiment and found that a physiological response may occur thorough the attractiveness modification process. They advocated that a physiological response is necessary for emotional arousal. In subsequent research, Valins' results (1966) have been generally supported (e. g., Inamori, 1974). Many of these studies analyzed only the period of picture presentation. However, to investigate the precise effects of false feedback, a longer period of analysis is required. This study investigated the effects of false HR feedback during picture presentation on attractiveness ratings and autonomic nervous system indices (HR, finger blood flow, and skin conductance) by performing analysis after the picture presentation period. We employed eight male subjects. Each of them viewed ten female pictures through two types of HR feedback: one was rising HR (reinforced feedback) and the other was constant HR (non-reinforced feedback). After a rest period of four minutes, 10 pictures of women were presented. Each picture presentation consisted of one minute of fixation and 15 seconds of presentation. After a one-minute rest period following the last trial, the subjects rated the attractiveness of each picture. As a result, we found differences in the autonomic activities of the two types of feedback only in the period after picture presentation. However, we could not find the modification of attractiveness ratings between the two types of feedback. The failure of cognitive operation seemed to be the reason for these paradoxical results.
