Cardiovascular responses and problem solving efficiency: their relationship as a function of task difficulty

In this study the relationship was examined between cardiovascular changes and performance efficiency in adult males performing an anagram solution task. Three conditions (n = 20 in each) were used, differing in the percentage of solvable anagrams (100, 50, and 30%). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) were measured before, during, and after the task. It was found that subjects who performed better in the 100% condition had an increase in pulse pressure (PP), that is, a greater rise of SBP than of DBP, whereas subjects who performed less in that condition showed a decrease in PP. Conversely, subjects who performed better in the 50 and 30% conditions showed a decrease in PP, whereas subjects who performed less in these conditions showed an increase in PP. With respect to HR changes, no significant correlations with performance were detected. Consistencies with data from endocrinological research were pointed out. Consideration was also given to the possible role of anxiety in mediating the relationship between physiological patterning and task performance.