title: Effects of frontalis tension level on discrimination task accuracy and reaction time.
abstract: The frontalis muscle is a focal point of many relaxation training programmes, so the effects of varying frontalis tension levels on concurrent task performance need consideration when recommending in situ muscle relaxation. Two experiments are reported; performance on a discrimination task was examined across high, moderate, and low induced frontalis tension. When length of exposure to the task stimuli was unlimited, accuracy of discrimination was affected by tension; when exposure was limited, reaction time was affected. In both experiments the high frontalis tension resulted in better performance than the other levels. Implications for the practice of in situ relaxation are considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioural Sciences, Cumberland College of Health Sciences, Lidcombe, Australia.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cleary
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D011930:Reaction Time; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012535:Scalp; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis