Metamotivational states displayed using differential digital photoplethysmograms while listening to music and noise

The theory of psychological reversal postulates that individuals switch between paratelic and telic metamotivational states. To observe the paratelic state as an actual phenomenon using a physiological index, a correlation between changes in P-wave amplitudes of differential digital photoplethysmograms (deltaDPG) of 24 undergraduate students while listening to music and changes in mood pre- to postlistening was investigated. Elevation in arousal of the sympathetic nervous system, as indicated by deltaDPG. was related to improvement in mood. It was assumed that the subjects who were aroused more while listening to music enjoyed the high arousal more and were more susceptible to a pleasant state. This was interpreted as a paratelic state. In listening to a noise condition using another 24 undergraduate students, however, the correlation was inverse of that for the music condition. It was assumed that the subjects who spent more effort in identifying stimuli showed more elevation in arousal of the sympathetic nervous system and more aggravation in mood. This was interpreted as a telic state.