Abstract
The present study was designed to examine the relationship between inhibition and changes in the anxiety response during repeated exposures to noxious stimuli. Six repressers (R) and 6 sensitizers (S), as defined by Byrne's RS scale, served as subjects. Experimental trials began with a 1 minute anticipatory period. An electrical shock of 10mA as a noxious stimulus was presented for 0.1 second at the termination of the anticipatory period, which was continuously announced by the count down of figures. Experimental trials were repeated 10 times, with inter-trial intervals of about 5 minutes. Heart rate was used as an indicator of anxiety. Main findings were as follows : (1) The factor analysis for time series patterns of heart rate yielded three factors. (2) As trials were repeated, trend changed in heart rate decreased, while phasic changes increased. (3) Repressers showed inhibitory change in heart rate just before the noxious stimulus. The latter result indicated that a defense mechanism affected the expression of anxiety in repressers.
