Effects of an External Cue on Psychophysiological Reactions to a Noxious Event

Subjects ( S s) who viewed a clock for 6 min while awaiting receipt of an electric shock showed significant changes in HR and SC; these indices did not change significantly for S s who could not observe the clock. Analyses of responses to the delivery of shock revealed that S s in the No Clock group demonstrated greater increases in HR and SC than did S s in the Clock group. Differences in HR within I min following shock were observed between the Clock and No Clock groups. It was suggested that rather than mediating fear arousal per se the external cue facilitated coping with the impending event.