Measuring the Relationship Between Reflexive and Intentional ANS Response

The dynamic behaviors of a complex organism are explained via voluntary and involuntary action. One underpinning of this system is organized and facilitated by the autonomic nervous system, integrating information from conscious and non-conscious centers in a seemingly hierarchical fashion. As a result, voluntary actions have the ability to inhibit reflexive actions via an inhibitory circuit. 111 subjects performed four diverse autonomic tasks consisting of voluntary and involuntary combinations. Analysis supports the proposed hierarchical model. Each task evoked specific autonomic states. Voluntary tasks influenced autonomic actions more than involuntary tasks. And working memory capacity mediated voluntary control.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Department dc:contributor.department

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Pardikes, Thomas James

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Friedman, Bruce H.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Cooper, Robin K. Panneton
• Harrison, David W.

• Autonomic Nervous System
• Coactivation
• Inhibition
• Volition

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-05102008-154022

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/32518