Fast reducers, slow augmenters: a psychophysiological analysis of temperament-related differences in reaction time.
Augmenting-reducing theory describes temperament-related differences in the modulation of stimulation. Reducers are supposed to need more stimulation than augmenters because of a cortical attenuation of incoming stimuli. The study investigated differences between augmenters and reducers (classified by questionnaire) in performance and information processing strategies in a simple reaction time task. Fifty-two subjects (27 augmenters, 25 reducers) took part in a visual reaction time task with go- and catch-trials (30%). Reaction times, commission errors, and psychophysiological indicators of information processing (N1, P300, EMG) were recorded. Reducers were faster and exhibited more commission errors than augmenters. Moreover, reducers exhibited higher N1-amplitudes, faster EMG-onsets and higher EMG-amplitudes than augmenters. An additional pain tolerance test revealed that male reducers were more pain tolerant than the other participants. These results are consistent with the proposition that reducers have a higher need for stimulation than augmenters. Probably, they utilize locomotor activity in order to compensate for their attenuated arousal.
Schwerdtfeger
Andreas
A
Department of Physiological Psychology, University of Wuppertal, Max Horkheimer Str. 20, D-44119 Wuppertal, Germany. aschwerd@mail.uni-mainz.de
Getzmann
Stephan
S
Baltissen
Rüdiger
R
D000328:Adult; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament / Q000502:physiology*