Jamieson Jeremy P, Mendes Wendy Berry, Blackstock Erin, Schmader Toni
Harvard University.
J Exp Soc Psychol. 2010 Jan 1;46(1):208-212. doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2009.08.015.
This research examined the benefits of interpreting physiological arousal as a challenge response on practice and actual Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Participants who were preparing to take the GRE reported to the laboratory for a practice GRE study. Participants assigned to a reappraisal condition were told arousal improves performance, whereas control participants were not given this information. We collected saliva samples at baseline and after the appraisal manipulation, which were then assayed for salivary alpha amylase (sAA), a measure of sympathetic nervous system activation. Reappraisal participants exhibited a significant increase in sAA and outperformed controls on the GRE-math section. One to three months later, participants returned to the lab and provided their score reports from their actual GRE. Again, reappraisal participants scored higher than controls on the GRE-math section. These findings illuminate the powerful influence appraisal has on physiology and performance both in and out of the laboratory.
本研究探讨了将生理唤醒解读为挑战反应对练习成绩和实际研究生入学考试（GRE）成绩的益处。准备参加GRE考试的参与者到实验室进行GRE模拟考试练习。被分配到重新评估条件组的参与者被告知唤醒能提高成绩，而对照组参与者未得到此信息。我们在基线时以及评估操作后收集唾液样本，然后检测唾液α淀粉酶（sAA），这是一种交感神经系统激活的指标。重新评估组参与者的sAA显著增加，并且在GRE数学部分的表现优于对照组。一到三个月后，参与者回到实验室并提供他们实际GRE考试的成绩报告。再次，重新评估组参与者在GRE数学部分的得分高于对照组。这些发现揭示了评估对实验室内外的生理和表现都具有强大的影响。
