The correlation between hypertonic changes of the eye retina and results of ability tests of different complexity

Abstract

The paper deals with the results of an investigation which aim was to find out whether there is any correlation between the hypertonic changes on the eye retina (changes in the blood vessels) and the reaction time in different situations of varying stimulus complexity. The assessment to hypertonic changes was done on 58 subjects by an ophtalmologist, and the reaction time in varying degrees of stimulus complexity was measured by the CRD apparatus (Drenovac, 1980, 1984). The sample consisted of 29 subjects in the control group and 29 hyperthonic persons. The results showed a negative correlation between the degree of retinal changes and complex response reaction time. Increased peripheral blood pressure, however, was found to have a positive correlation with the reaction time, which is most probably due to the effect of increased muscular tension, while »expecting the stimulus« (Kahneman, 1973). The results indicated a possibility of a positive relationship between high blood pressure and the speed of reaction during the central phase, and the negative correlation during the effector period.