The Production of Specific Decreases in Interbeat Interval and the Molor Skills Analogy

Abstract

ABSTRACT Johnston (1977) has argued that studies ofthe self‐control of heart rate have not provided clear support for thetheor that biofeedback aided leaming is analogous to a motor skill. This could be because the tasks studied are not modelled closely enough on the skills analogized and because feedback might aid control rather than leaming. These possibilities were examined in a series of five studies on decreasing interbeat interval (i.e. increasing heart rate) by a specific amount. It was shown in two studies that analogue feedback was superior to binary. The effect of frequency of feedback was weaker but frequent feedback was better than infrequent in two out of three studies. Feedback plus verbal instructions was better than verbal instructions alone and performance deteriorated when feedback was withdrawn. The results support the view that heart rate control does resemble a motor skill when the task set the subject has close similarity to a conventional skilled task and that, under these circumstances, feedback primarily aids performance and not leaming.