A comparison of the mechanisms and some properties of instructed sudomotor and cardiac control

Abstract

Instructed control defined as differential compliance with verbal instructions to increase and decrease a response was assessed when a change in sudomotor activation or heart rate was specified as the behavioral goal. Instructed control of heart rate was evident prior to explicit feedback training for this response, but instructed control of sudomotor activation defined as finger sweating and measured as skin conductance was not. Feedback training subsequently established instructed control of sudomotor responding, but such training did not lead to a significant improvement in control of heart rate. Explicit strategy suggestions emphasizing emotional responding and intended or actual movement appeared to interfere with the performance of instructed control under both target conditions. Instructed changes in heart rate were attended by correlated changes in somatomotor and respiratory function. Somatomotor and respiratory responses were also observed when subjects were instructed to change sudomotor activation, but these correlated activities were of small magnitude and were not augmented by feedback training as was target responding. Several accounts of the basis for differences that were evident between the target conditions with respect to feedback effects and response patterns are discussed.