The Influence of Personality and Age on the Relationship Between Vigilance Performance and Arousal Level

Abstract

Twenty-four male volunteer subjects took part in a 1-hour visual vigilance task in which they were required to detect flashes of unusual intensity in a regular series of flashes. EEG alpha incidence, log skin conductance, and pulse rate, recorded in the 10-second period prior to each of the 18 signal presentations, did not distinguish between signals missed and signals detected. Analysis of individual differences in EEG change revealed significant differences due to neuroticism and age. Older, less neurotic subjects improve their performance when their arousal level is raised; younger, more neurotic individuals evidence a performance decrement when arousal level is increased. Our hypothesis concerning the effects of neuroticism and/or extraversion on the vigilance-arousal relationship was supported.