What is Autonomic arousal?
Autonomic arousal is the activation of the autonomic nervous system in response to stimuli, producing physiological changes like increased heart rate, sweating, pupil dilation, and altered breathing. It is the body’s preparation for action.
How it works
The autonomic nervous system has two branches: sympathetic (fight-or-flight activation) and parasympathetic (rest-and-digest restoration). Arousal levels influence cognition and behavior according to the Yerkes-Dodson law: moderate arousal optimizes performance, while too little (boredom) or too much (panic) impairs it. Arousal is measured through skin conductance, heart rate variability, pupillometry, and cortisol levels, providing objective indicators of emotional and motivational states.
Applied example
A public speaker whose heart races, palms sweat, and breathing quickens before going on stage is experiencing autonomic arousal. At moderate levels, this arousal enhances performance (sharper thinking, more energy). At extreme levels, it causes cognitive freezing and performance collapse.
Why it matters
Autonomic arousal is the body’s readiness signal that powerfully influences cognitive performance, emotional experience, and decision-making quality.
