Inter- and intrasession reliability of psychophysiological poststress adaptation periods

This study examined the intersession and intrasession reliability of poststress adaptation periods. Fifteen undergraduates were assessed four times on measures of cephalic vasomotor response, electromyography (EMG; frontal and forearm flexor), hand surface temperature, heart rate, and skin resistance level. The results indicated no consistent intersession reliability of these measures and good intrasession reliability of all measures except frontal EMG. A 3- min poststress adaptation period was all that was necessary for most measures, again with the exception of frontal EMG, to return to a baseline quiescent state. These results are discussed in terms of the effect these findings have on theories of psychophysiological disorders which postulate impaired recovery processes.The author gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Drs. Edward B. Blanchard, Frank Andrasik, and Ellie Sturgis for their help in the conceptualization of this paper and Patricia Cotch and Patricia Myers for their help in the running of this study. Without their aid, the article would not have been possible.