HEART-RATE AND SKIN-CONDUCTANCE IN BEHAVIORALLY INHIBITED MAURITIAN CHILDREN

This study tested predictions that inhibited versus uninhibited childr en exhibit higher heart fate (HR) and skin conductance (SC) arousal. M auritian children (N = 1,795) were tested at age 3 and classified as i nhibited, middle. or uninhibited on the basis of social behavior. HR l evel and several SC measures were obtained immediately before or durin g a tune task. Inhibited children displayed significantly higher HR an d SC levels and longer SC latency relative to uninhibited children. Re sults remained regardless of ethnicity, gender, height, weight, respir atory complaints, or crying behavior. Findings suggest that HR and SC levels may be early indicators of inhibited or uninhibited behavior at age 3 and support the notion of heightened sympathetic reactivity due to limbic arousal in inhibited children.