Developmental differences in the preparatory heart rate response: childhood through adulthood

Abstract

The present article examines developmental differences across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood in the triphasic anticipatory heart rate response and the impact of age on the relationship between anticipatory deceleration (D2) and reaction time (RT). Heart rate and RT were recorded from participants ages 5–25 during a fixed, 6 s anticipatory paradigm. The triphasic anticipatory heart rate response was larger in children, with the children displaying a delayed acceleratory component. Across this wide age range sample, D2 significantly predicted RT, but a model that included Age and D2 predicted significantly more of the RT variance. When comparing across ages on the triphasic response components or the relationship between D2 and RT, researchers should account for developmental effects.