Individual differences in self-rated anxiety and respiratory sinus arrhythmia predict performance on a complex working memory task

Authors

Brian Healy

Department of Psychology, Plymouth State University, Plymouth, USA

Abstract

Research indicates that performance on complex working memory span tasks provide insight into individual differences in executive function. Studies suggest that outcomes on these tasks may be related to the ability to regulate attention. Additional studies have indicated that high levels of anxiety and low estimates of respiratory sinus arrhythmia may have a negative effect on tasks that assess executive processes. In this study measures of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were recorded from undergraduate participants prior to, during, and following a computerized measure of working memory capacity. Changes in RSA from baseline to task was also calculated as a measure of reactivity. Participants also completed a self-rated measure of anxiety. The data suggest that participants with low estimates of anxiety were able to recall more items during the memory tasks independent of resting estimates of RSA. This ability, however, was compromised as levels of anxiety increased but only for those with low resting RSA. The directional RSA changes from baseline to task (a comparison of those that increased RSA from baseline to task vs those that decreased RSA from baseline to task) was unrelated to memory performance. Results point towards the significance of both resting RSA and self-rated anxiety in affecting performance on a working memory task.

Keywords: anxiety, memory, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, working memory capacity

PAGES:245-255

doi:10.24193/cbb.2019.23.14

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