title: Is the ability to keep your mind sharp under pressure reflected in your heart? Evidence for the neurophysiological bases of decision reinvestment.
abstract: The aim of this study was twofold: first, to examine the influence of decision reinvestment on decision-making performance using an option-generation task, and second to investigate its neurophysiological basis with heart rate variability. Forty-two male participants performed an option-generation task (i.e., where participants are required to generate their own options rather than being asked to decide from a set of options) under low- and high-pressure conditions. Results showed that the decision-making performance of low and high decision reinvesters was similar in the low-pressure condition, however in the high-pressure condition low reinvesters decided faster than their high reinvester counterparts. Moreover, we found that the pressure-induced reduction in parasympathetic activity was more pronounced in high reinvesters in comparison to low reinvesters. Findings are interpreted in light of the neurovisceral integration model, assuming a positive relationship between cognitive performance and parasympathetic activity. These findings offer a physiological insight into a psychological phenomenon and may also suggest a way to counteract the detrimental effects of decision reinvestment by utilizing interventions that target the parasympathetic activity, such as heart rate variability biofeedback.
authors.affiliation: German Sport University, Performance Psychology, Am Sportpart Müngersdorf 6, Cologne, Germany; UFR STAPS, EA 4260, University of Caen, France. Electronic address: sylvain.laborde@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laborde
authors.affiliation: German Sport University, Performance Psychology, Am Sportpart Müngersdorf 6, Cologne, Germany; London South Bank University, UK.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raab
authors.affiliation: Brunel University London, UK.
authors.forename: Noel P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Kinrade
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009862:Online Systems; D011312:Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Decision making; Heart rate variability; Neurovisceral integration model; Performance under pressure; Reinvestment; Stress