The difference in attention and cognitive performance
between 26 hypotensive (systolic blood pressure < 100
mmHg and diastolic blood pressure < 60 mmHg) and 22
normotensive female university students was assessed. Attention
was examined with contingent negative variation (CNV) recorded
using light and tone as S1 and S2. Cognitive performance
was assessed by free recall of a list of words and two
German tests of cognitive speed performance and sustained
attention: Zahlen-Verbindungs-Test and d2. The hypotensive
participants demonstrated a lower increase in negativity
on the CNV. Moreover, in the free recall test, hypotensive
individuals remembered fewer words, in comparison with
normotensive subjects. Scores for hypotensive individuals
on the Zahlen-Verbindungs-Test and d2 were also lower.
No difference was found in reaction times to imperative
stimuli (S2).