title: Prediction of physiological arousability: a validation of the Arousal Predisposition Scale.
abstract: The Arousal Predisposition Scale (APS) is a brief (12-item) scale, that purportedly measures arousability, and has already been shown to predict task related arousal changes measured via self-report indexes. To determine if APS scores could predict individual differences in physiological measures of arousal, it was administered to 239 subjects. From this group, 9 highly arousable subjects and 9 low arousable subjects (based on APS scores) were selected. Each subject was repeatedly exposed to an arousing stimulus consisting of a 105 dB white noise. Electrodermal activity and the electromyographic response were used as indexes of change in autonomic and affective arousal. Subjects who scored highly arousable on the APS showed a greater change in electrodermal and electromyographic response than subjects judged low on arousability. This appears to validate the usefulness of the APS as a measure of individual differences in predisposition toward arousability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coren
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Mah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D009129:Muscle Tonus; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D013216:Reflex, Startle