HEART RATE, SKIN RESISTANCE, AND REACTION TIME OF MONGOLOID AND NORMAL CHILDREN UNDER BASELINE AND DISTRACTION CONDITIONS

Reaction time, body movement, heart rate, and skin resistance of Mongoloid and “normal” control children were evaluated under baseline and distraction conditions. Relative to controls, Mongoloids demonstrated (1) slower reaction time under both conditions, (2) a reduced skin resistance response and fewer heart rate fluctuations during the baseline period, and (3) fewer skin resistance fluctuations during the distraction condition. Furthermore, skin resistance fluctuations were negatively correlated with reaction time, and heart rate fluctuations, although not significant, were in the same direction. These findings offer some support for the theoretical assertions of Lacey and Lacey (1958) that spontaneous activity is related to motor impulsivity, cortical activity, and general skeletal-motor functions. Body movement was negatively related to these measures of spontaneous activity and thus cannot be invoked as an explanation for the findings.