Self-focus and estimation of heart rate following physical exertion

Abstract

A study investigated the hypothesis that highly self-attentive persons would be more accurate in estimating their heart rates than would less self-attentive persons. Subjects’ heart rates were elevated by approximately 60 bpm by physical exercise. Subjects then estimated their heart rates at 30-sec intervals, as they returned to their preexercise baselines. Estimates were compared with subjects’ actual heart rates. The study failed to yield support for the hypothesis being tested. Discussion centers on possible reasons for this failure. © 1980, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.