The influence of clothing pressure exerted by girdle on inhibition ability of young females

Abstract

Purpose Since it has been regarded as an effective method to evaluate clothing pressure comfort with physiological and psychological techniques the purpose of this paper is to examine the effect on people s inhibition ability caused by the oppression from clothing on the body through event-related potentials (ERPs). A trial application of ERPs technology was made to evaluate clothing pressure comfort and investigate the relationship between some physical indexes of brain wave and clothing pressure. This research would also reveal the influence of clothing pressure on the thinking ability and mental activity of young women. Design/methodology/approach Stroop color-naming task was utilized to test the inhibition ability of participants. In the present research, some components of ERPs (e.g. N1, P2, N2 and N450) and behavioral indexes (RTs, and errors rates) were detected to verify the change of physiology and psychology caused by the pressure imposed by girdle on the body. Findings At behavioral level RTs were slower for the group under pressure rather than pressure-free group with no significant difference in errors rate between the two groups. Based on the early component statistics of ERPs the Stroop effects of both groups were similar. Besides there was no prominent difference in the latencies and amplitudes of N1, P2 and N2 components except the N450 components. The inhibition ability of young women who had worn girdle for 8 hours decreased causing them unable to make a timely response and thus affecting their attentiveness and executive ability. Originality/value This study would clarify that it is feasible to evaluate clothing pressure comfort with ERPs as a physiological technique, and enrich relative methods.