Yerkes–Dodson law and task difficulty
According to the Yerkes–Dodson law, performance on a complex task is best at:
Answer C: explanation for every choice
A
Very high arousal impairs performance, especially on complex tasks.
B
Very low arousal leads to poor attention and effort.
C
Correct. Performance follows an inverted U, and the peak shifts toward lower arousal for harder tasks.
D
The optimal level depends on difficulty. Simple tasks peak at higher arousal than complex ones.
TakeawayInverted U: moderate arousal is best, and the peak is lower for harder tasks.
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Reviewed 2026-11-05 by a medical student. Spot an error? Report it with question ID ps52.