Arousal

A few second prior to an expected event, a systematic decrease in heart rate (HR), reflecting attentional processing is observed. Arousal variations however, restrain the interpretation of this decrement. The present study, aimed to investigate vigilance and arousal effects during a skilled performance separately, using separate measures for the two psychological states. HR and skin conductance level (SCL) were measured as an index of vigilance and arousal from 18 elite and 19 novices during 30 self-paced, self-initiated basketball free throws. Values of HR and SCL were calculated at half-second intervals from 10 s before to 10 s after each shot and were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. This helped to compare pre-shot and post-shot patterns of physiological changes separately in elites and novices. In elites, there was a slow reduction in SCL prior to, and a rebound increase immediately following the shot. These were smaller for novices. Similar findings were observed when good shots were compared to bad ones. The value for rebound after good shots reached 8 times more than the pre-shot value. A sharp increase in HR, up to 40 bpm was found 4 second before the shot, which returned to pre-shot value after 2s for elites; this did not return in novices. HR in bad shots was higher than good shots. Results indicate that the SCL reflect arousal level at the time of task and its pattern of variations reflects skill level. Although, HR was lower in good shots, the pattern of variation in HR reflected physical requirements of the task. Results were compared to previous findings and discussed in relation to the hypotheses explaining arousal and vigilance in human behavioral performance.

Prior research has extensively examined the motivating factors driving tourists to visit religious sites; however, there has been a noticeable gap in understanding the emotional experiences of tourists during these visits. The primary objective of this study is to explore and quantify the emotional states, arousal levels, and overall satisfaction of tourists while visiting religious destinations. The study draws upon data gathered from 149 tourists who visited the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Descriptive statistical methods are employed to assess and compare different demographic groups within the sample. The results of this study reveal that visiting religious places evokes a profound sense of inner peace and happiness among tourists, transcending religious boundaries. Remarkably, even tourists practicing religions other than the one associated with the visited site reported feeling blessed during their visits. Participants described a heightened sense of inner contentment and noted that the physical and mental pressures they carried seemed to dissipate during their pilgrimage. These findings contribute significantly to our comprehension of the multifaceted dimensions of religious and spiritual tourism, shedding light on the pivotal factors that drive individuals to embark on transformative journeys. By delving into the emotional and experiential aspects of religious and spiritual tourism, this study underscores the importance of emotional well-being and inner fulfilment as crucial motivators in tourists' engagement with religious sites.