Page 56 - Coespu Magazine 2017-2

from an interval of heartbeat between 60 -80 pulses/minute every type of movement is normal,
without any problem, but as the value increases until 115, there is a deterioration of fine motor skill.
An example: we have a car crash and fortunately without damage to ourselves. If the police ask to
us to sign or fill out a form, we are not able to perform it well, we have not the complete control of
our finger.
In the range from 115 to 145 we obtain the best performances for the combat behavior but as passed
145 pulses/minute we loss the ability connected to the complex motor skill (without to enter in the
detail, this explain why generally the weapon manipulation, when is requested the use of the finger
and the coordination of distal muscles, in the real combat, it is very difficult!).
But the heart rate influences not only the movements and their coordination, but also many other
physical and psychological processes (see the table).

In fact as we can see in the table, form 145 to 175, it may start alterations of external senses, and the
consequences are auditory or visual delusion, but also irrational actions and over 175 B/M freezing.
This explains more irrational actions when the people are under hight stressful or the incapacity to
make everything, also to shout, as well as not clear description of criminal or violent events from
the witness.

Written by:

Doctor Davide Perego
Neuroscientist, Psyco-Neuro Physiologist,
expert in psychopathology and neuropsychology

50