RUN/EDIT information processing mode and phasic cardiac acceleration.

Our previous research showed that tasks demanding running of ready-to-use programs (RUN tasks) caused a greater tonic heart rate increase than did tasks that require problem solving (EDIT tasks). We found also a similar though not so consistent effect in the analysis of phasic cardiac acceleration. The aim of the present study was to replicate the last finding using new experimental tasks. Fifty-four male secondary school pupils were divided randomly into three experimental groups. Each group performed a different version of a nonsignaled reaction time (RT) task: simple RT, sensory choice RT, and semantic choice RT. Participants had to respond within an established time limit, but this limit was continuously modified in such a way that each participant was given positive feedback in approximately 50% of trials. According to expectations, the simple RT task evoked greater phasic cardiac acceleration than did the choice RT tasks.