26th Annual Student Research Conference
Do the Left and Right Hands Differ in Responsiveness to Experimental Stressors?
Sandi Bowers*, Monica DeBold, Grace Robinson, Joe Hannan, and Erin Schnurbusch
Dr. Fred Shaffer, Faculty Mentor
The present study evaluated whether left- or right-hand placements differ in their autonomic responsiveness to experimental stressors. Thirty-four undergraduates (18 male and 16 female), 18 to 23 years of age, who were all right-handed, participated in this study. In this within subjects design, participants were randomly assigned to one of six orders of three 3-minute conditions (control, serial sevens stressor, and visualization stressor). Data were analyzed using a GLM analysis with familywise correction. Both the serial sevens and visualization stressors were effective as measured by changes in state anxiety. A subset of participants showed differences between left- and right-hand placements that exceeded 1 standard deviation (8/34 BVP, 5/34 skin conductance, and 5/34 temperature). These results support using a psychophysiological profile with bilateral placements to select the hand that should be monitored during biofeedback training and psychotherapy.
Keywords: skin conductance, biofeedback, autonomic response, stressors, psychophysiology
Topic(s):Psychology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 107-5
Location: MG 1000
Time: 9:00