Consistency and Test-Retest Reliability of Spontaneous Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Eye Movements

Abstract

Spontaneous autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity (GSR) was recorded during rest, and frequency of horizontal eye movements was recorded during the viewing of two different dot patterns by 14 Ss. The same tasks were repeated after a 2- to 4-mo. period. ANS activity during rest was found to be quite consistent over time ( rho = .75, p < .01) as were eye movements. The within-session rho between eye movements on the patterns was .30 (N.S.) for the first session and .76 ( p < .01) for the second session. The rhos of eye movements obtained 2 to 4 mo. apart were .58 ( p < .05) for a 6-dot stimulus and .77 ( p < .01) for a 1-dot stimulus. When eye movements for the 2 conditions were combined, rho was .78 ( p < .01) between the sessions separated by 2 to 4 mo.