Abstract
Hemodynamic reaction patterns were examined in two groups, each consisting of 12 male students, who underwent afive-min mental arithmetic task (serial subtraction) in a partially controllable (PC) or an uncontrollable (UC) condition. The PC group was given feedback on each answer, urged to finish the task within a certain time, and exposed to an aversive stimulus every 20 s if they fell behind the required pace. In contrast, the UC group underwent no feedback, they were not urged to finish the task within a particular time, but the same aversive stimulus was used. The PC group, as expected, exhibited the cardiac-dominant reaction pattern (blood pressure elevation mainly due to an increase in cardiac output), and the UC group, unexpectedly, showed the same pattern, albeit less obviously. The implications of the present results on controllability are discussed. (Japanese Journal of Physiological Psychology and Psychophysiology, 22 (3) : 247-255, 2004.)
