Effect on autonomic activities due to differences in the competitive environment during computer game task

Abstract

Competition is known to increase cardiovascular response. Previous studies have investigated the effects of the dispositions of opponents, results of matches, and mental activity, but the effects of the competition environment on physiological activities are not yet well-known. In this study, we investigated its effects on autonomic responses during a competitive game task. Twenty undergraduates took part in both face-to-face (FF) and network (NW) competitive conditions. Each condition consisted of four minutes of rest, three minutes of tasks, and three minutes of recovery. Heart rate (HR), finger pulse volume (PV), and skin conductance (SC) were measured. During the rest period, we found lower PV in the FF condition. This can be interpreted as indicating that tension that occurred as a result of non-verbal information from an opponent increased the vasoconstriction of peripheral tissue. Furthermore, we found higher SC during the recovery period in the FF condition, which we consider to also reflect the effects of non-verbal information. These results suggest that the competitive environment is an important factor affecting physiological activity.