Key result
Physiological metrics and task performance were poorest at 4 A.M. and peaked at 10 A.M., supporting the relationship between activation level and performance.
Why the study?
Does time of day affect pulse rate, respiration rate, and task performance in female college students?
Observational (n=15)
Does time of day affect pulse rate, respiration rate, and task performance in female college students?
Physiological activation (pulse and respiration) correlates with performance on reaction time and time estimation tasks across the day-night continuum.
Time-of-day effects on activation and performance merit protocol adjustments in young adults; extends activation-performance links but leaves generalizability open.
Each of 15 female college students was tested at 4 P.M., 10 P.M., 4 A.M., and 10 A.M. Pulse rate and respiration rate were gauged directly before task performance. An RT task was followed by time estimation. Pulse and respiration rates were slowest at 4 A.M. and increased significantly by the 10 A.M. testing, followed by a gradual decline. Both RT and time estimation were poorest at 4 A.M., reached a peak at 10 A.M. and gradually declined. These findings agree with previous data which show that, as activation level increases up to a certain point, performance improves. No S s showed over-activation previously observed to lead to disintegration of performance. A major criticism of the procedure was discussed.
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Sylvia Adkins (1964) reported an observational. Time of day (4 P.M., 10 P.M., 4 A.M., 10 A.M.) was evaluated on Pulse rate, respiration rate, reaction time, and time estimation. Physiological metrics and task performance were poorest at 4 A.M. and peaked at 10 A.M., supporting the relationship between activation level and performance.
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