The EMG gradient as a reflection of metamotivational state

The significance of motivational statedominance in everyday life and actual motivational state during task performance was investigated in relation to skeletal muscle tension patterns during performance in the continuous preceptual-motor task paradigm. Subjects were recruited to form seriousminded (telic) and playful (paratelic) extreme groups according to their responses to the Telic Dominance Scale (6 subjects in each group). They all performed a continuous perceptual-motor task twice in a neutral context (N1, N2), once with threat of aversive shock at poor performance (T), and once with promise of monetary reward for good performance (R); T and R being balanced around N 2. Measures of tonic (slow) EMG activation were derived from the "passive" forearm, and structured (blind) interview assessed motivational state. It was concluded that motivational state, rather than statedominance, was associated with EMG activation. The telic state was significant to high EMG activation for the N I and T treatments in particular.