Cardiovascular and Electroencephalographic Response to Purposeful vs. Nonpurposeful Activity in Adults

Abstract

eEffects of purposefulness on heart rate, blood pressure, and electroencephalographic recordings were examined in 32 adults performing purposeful and nonpurposeful activities of equal cardiopulmonary workload. Blood pressure increased from resting during purposeful and nonpurposeful activity (all p < .02); the level of increase was similar for purposeful and nonpurposeful activity [systolic (p = .44); diastolic (p = .25)]. No significant differences in heart rate (p = .42) or electroencephalographic beta wave activity (p = .39) were noted between purposeful and nonpurposeful activities. These findings suggest that the degree of purposefulness of the activity did not influence the cardiovascular response.

KEYWORDS:

• Cardiopulmonary
• electroencephalogram
• occupational therapy

Notes

^†The authors thank and acknowledge Amita Mittal, M.S., for her assistance in the analysis of the results and Julia Tomanio, a bachelor's degree student in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of New England (Biddeford, Maine) for her assistance in data collection. We would like to thank OT graduate students Sandy Lemieux, Sarah Meyer, and Sandy Moutinho for their work in the development of protocols. Funding for this study was provided by a Presidential Mini-grant at the University of New England