Citation

Freeman GL, Lindley SB. J. Exp. Psychol. 1931; 14(6): 567-605.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1931, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0068501

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The experiments were designed to measure changes in restlessness and tonus which accompany protracted activity. The experimental tasks were (1) finger renitence, (2) finger oscillation and (3) addition of four place numbers. The results of the first group of experiments indicate that the initial level of both restlessness and tonus is related to the period of work. Variability in performance, restlessness and tonus increases with the duration of work. High variability and increased neuro-muscular activity characterize the initiation of poorly adapted performance. The results of the second and more extensive group of experiments showed increased tonus and restlessness as the normal accompaniments of continuous work. In the latter part of these tests decrement was least where tonus was highest and greatest where restlessness was the more pronounced. The authors relate their results to the laws of relative fatigue. The consequences of protracted activity are (1) relative loss of control of the directive set over the behavior flux and (2) reinforcement probably active to balance the competition of incompatible reaction tendencies. Restlessness is suggested as more indicative of the first set of factors and tonus as more indicative of the latter. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)