Skin conductance and heart rate responses to neutral, positive, and negative imagery: Implications for convert behavior therapy procedures

Abstract

Fifty-seven college students had heart rate and skin conductance monitored while engaging in neutral, positive, and negative visual imagery. Experimental controls were employed to check shifts in basal arousal level, initial value effects, suppression of arousal from the relaxation employed, intensity of imagery, and clarity of imagery. Both positive and negative imagery produced and sustained high levels of skin conductance over one minute. neutral imagery tended to reduce arousal below original baseline levels. Positive imagery was rated as clearer than negative or neutral imagery. Implications for the effects autonomic arousal might have on covert behavior therapy procedures were discussed.