Heart rate accelerations as a function of anticipation time for task performance and reward

Measured the heart rate of 48 college students while they waited designated short or long periods of time either to perform a rewarding task or to receive a reward only. Heart rate did not accelerate if Ss were kept waiting only to receive a reward, but it did increase in Ss waiting to perform the rewarding task; this acceleration increased as the waiting period was extended. Results indicate that it is possible to produce a phenomenon similar to S. Breznitz's "incubation of threat" (i.e. heart rate acceleration over time when Ss are expecting an unavoidable electric shock) with Ss expecting to perform a rewarding task. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).