Circadian variations in psychological measures: a new classification
Adan, A.
Chronobiologia 20(3-4): 145-161
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0390-0037 PMID: 8131664 Document Number: 412728
There is clear evidence for the fact that psychological processes vary in time in a regular, periodic, predictable manner. But the study of patterns of rhythmicity in psychological parameters (chronopsychology) still falls short of achieving any delimitation of the commonly used tests, especially those that place emphasis on speed of execution. The aim of this paper is to put forward a way of classifying psychological tests based on first, the type of skill they bring into play and their differential components and second, the practical criterion of the resultant circadian function. The exposition is limited to work carried out with samples of healthy adult subjects adapted to diurnal schedules. The classification includes both subjective and objective tests, alongside the circadian pattern that typifies them from a literature review. Starting from normative data - if they exist - we took for coherence in existing findings, which were previously considered inconsistent or inconclusive. A change in the traditional dichotimization between vigilance and cognitive tasks, is proposed. The objective tasks are differentiated as complex (memory and greater cognitive complexity) or simple. Among the simple tasks are included those with high and weak motor component. Those with weak motor component consist in vigilance, signal-detection and/or discrimination tasks. Finally, attention is paid to individual differences in morningness, extraversion, sex and age as mediatory variables in the non-native circadian functions described.