Abstract
The effect of induced muscle tension (IMT) upon the visual evoked potential (VEP) and the motor potential (MP) was studied in three male Ss. Electrodes were placed at the motor area (C3 ) (and the visual area (02 ). The averaged evoked potentials were recorded over several sessions under the following four conditions: (A) light alone, (B) resting, (C) squeezing dynamometer alone, and (D) light plus squeezing. This study was done in response to a previous study (Andreassi, Mayzner, Beyda, & Davidovics, 1970), which reported enhancement of the visual and motor potentials due to IMT and attributed it to “the arousing influence of the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS).” Enhancement of VEP due to IMT was found in this study. Because a visual response is present at the motor area, apparent enhancement of the MP could be attributed to either a neural event or an algebraic summation of the MP and VEP. Subsequent research is proposed.
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This research was partially supported by Research Grant MH 14020-03 from the National Institute of Mental Health to Donald I. Tepas.
The authors wish to thank Donald I. Tepas for reviewing this paper and P. Klingenberg for assistance in preparation of this manuscript.
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Dinges, D.F., Klingaman, R.L. Effects of induced muscle tension upon the visual evoked potential and motor potential: A replication. Psychon Sci 28, 303–305 (1972). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03328749
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03328749