Personality, affective response, and facial blood flow during brief cognitive tasks

Blood pressure, heart rate, and changes in facial and finger blood flow were monitored in 58 women during three laboratory tasks, i.e., reading out a neutral text, a personally relevant speech (including a silent preparation phase), and a tracking task. Participants rated the tasks as mild to moderate with regard to affect intensity. Significant effects of personality on affect states were demonstrated, indicating higher levels of anxiety, depression, and anger in the high-neuroticism group, and more curiosity in the high-extraversion group. Arterial pressure, heart rate, and facial blood flow increased during task performance in all three conditions. No relationship between facial blood flow changes and muscle activity measured by m. masseter electromyography (EMG) were demonstrated. Digital vasoconstriction occurred in parallel with facial vasodilatation during tracking and in the preparation phase before the speech. There were no moderator effects of neuroticism or extraversion on blood flow or other cardiovascular responses.