bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unibase/glycol as an Electrolyte Medium for Recording the Electrodermal Duct Filling Response
Authors: Schneider Robert E. , Fowles Don C.
Published: February 2007

Two experiments with 12 subjects each compared electrodermal recordings taken simultaneously with four different electrolyte media. These were polyethylene glycol, Unibase/glycol, Unibase, and hydrated agar (i.e., a site recorded with agar electrolyte which had been attached to the skin long enough to attain a high degree of hydration). The primary purpose was to compare the electrolyte containing a mixture of Unibase/glycol with the other electrolytes. The glycol and the hydrated agar were assumed to reflect low and high levels of epidermal hydration, respectively. These comparisons were made for monophasic negative SPRs and slow recovery SCRs (and their associated prestimulus levels), which are believed to reflect the endosomatic and exosomatic manifestations of the epidermal duct filling response.

Unibase/glycol was quite similar to glycol alone with the exception of the prestimulus SPL associated with negative SPRs. Taken in conjunction with previous findings, the results suggest that for most aspects of electrodermal activity Unibase/glycol is a convenient electrolyte medium for use when minimal hydration is required. It is argued on theoretical grounds that minimal hydration is preferable for skin potential recordings.
A Proposed Feedback Method For Studying the Inhibition of EEG Responses to Visual Stimuli
Authors: Mulholland Thomas B.
Published: February 2007

A new method for studying inhibition of an electroencephalographic component of the OR to visual stimuli is described. The EEG response is suppression of the occipital alpha following visual stimulation. By a controlled feedback contingency, two stimuli are made to occur in sequence with a controlled time delay after the onset of alpha in the EEG. Inhibition is defined as a lack of EEG response to the first stimulus followed by a response to the second, delayed stimulus. Because the stimuli are feedback with regard to the occurrence of alpha, the dynamics of the alpha ‐ alpha suppression system are different when a response is made to the first stimulus (elicitation of OR to first stimulus) compared to not responding to the first stimulus but responding to the second delayed stimulus (inhibition of OR to the first stimulus).
Detection and Processing of Individual Components in the VEP
Authors: Aunon Jorge I. , McGillem Clare D.
Published: February 2007

This paper describes a new technique for use in the field of evoked potentials research. The technique makes use of the latency corrected average method for identification of the components of the single evoked potential. Examples are presented in which this technique is utilized to separate homogeneous subsets of potentials within a set of tests.
A Modular System For Detecting and Displaying Plethysmographic Blood Volume Pulse Amplitude
Authors: Cohen Michael J. , Schandler Steven L.
Published: February 2007

A modular system for detecting and displaying the maximum amplitude of a plethysmographic blood volume pulse is described. By utilizing a peak detector and supporting logic, the height of the pulse wave for each cardiac cycle is displayed as an analogue step function similar in appearance to the output of a cardiotachometer. This output is simpler and faster to quantify than the typical hand‐scoring of blood volume pulse amplitude and is easily adaptable as a feedback medium for pulse wave information. The validity of the new method was ascertained by comparing its output with trough to peak ruler measurements of blood volume pulse during a variety of events. For each stimulus condition correlations between the two methods of scoring ranged from r= .85 to .99 with an average of r = .93 while within subjects correlations ranged from r= .87 to .99 with an average of r= .95.
A Brief Multiple Discrimination Procedure Using a Cardiac Response
Authors: Brown James W.
Published: February 2007

Sixteen adult human subjects participated in an experiment examining whether a “no‐delay” cardiac orienting paradigm could effectively test discrimination of four different stimulus changes in a single brief session. Subjects heard a 4.5‐min train of pulsing tones which changed in frequency, intensity, pulse duration, or location of the sound source at irregular intervals. Cardiac deceleration to changes in frequency, duration, and location were significant at p<.05. It is concluded that changes in continuing stimulation can be effective discrimination probes, and that a number of different discrimination probes can be tested in one session using this procedure. The significance of a failure to elicit a response to change in tone intensity is discussed.
Cardiac Arrhythmias in Infant Pigtail Monkeys Following Maternal Separation
Authors: Seiler Conny , Cullen Jeanne Stanley , Zimmerman John , Reite Martin
Published: February 2007

The occurrence of nocturnal cardiac arrhythmias was determined in 9 infant pigtail (M. nemestrina) monkeys during 3 baseline normal nights, 3 nights following maternal separation, and 3 nights following reunion with the mother. All infants lived in social groups where they had been raised by their natural mothers; heart rate data were collected by means of totally implantable biotelemetry systems.

Marked individual differences were found in the mean frequency of cardiac arrhythmias in the baseline condition, and infants with lower heart rates had a greater mean number of arrhythmias. Maternal separation was accompanied by both increases in arrhythmias and decreases in heart rate. The relationship (slope of the regression line) between arrhythmias and heart rate changed in 8 of the 9 infants during separation, suggesting that the increase in arrhythmias was greater than could be accounted for by the decreases in heart rate alone. While both heart rate and arrhythmia values tended to return to baseline values following reunion with the mother, some infants exhibited prolonged separation‐induced alterations.
Time of Quarter Effect: An Uncontrolled Variable in Electrodermal Research
Authors: Fisher Leslie E. , Winkel Mark H.
Published: February 2007

Does the time of the academic quarter in which a subject participates in an electrodermal habituation study have an effect upon electrodermal response components—e.g., skin conductance level (SCL), skin conductance response (SCR), and spontaneous fluctuation (SF) activity? Four groups of 24 undergraduates (12 males and 12 females each) participated in an habituation session consisting of a 10‐min adaptation period and 15, 5‐sec bursts of 85 dB white noise, during the first, fourth, seventh, or tenth week of an eleven‐week quarter. Predictably, all three dependent variables were affected by the time of quarter (TOQ) manipulation and/or by the interaction of this variable with the sex of the participant. Relationships between three meteorological variables—temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure—and the electrodermal variables were also quantified. Several of the correlations between these meteorological variables and the electrodermal measures were found to be significantly greater than zero; however, when employed as covariates, these meteorological variables failed to significantly modify the effects of the independent variable manipulations upon the electrodermal measures. Results are discussed in terms of the need to adequately control for this potentially confounding variable in electrodermal research.
Voluntary Heart Rate Control During Static Muscular Effort
Authors: Clemens William J. , Shattock Rachel J.
Published: February 2007

To test the hypothesis that voluntary heart rate (HR) control is possible with simultaneous muscular effort, 8 male subjects were trained in feedback assisted bidirectional HR control, and also practiced hand grip exercises requiring different levels of effort for 3 consecutive daily sessions. In a fourth session subjects were required to increase and decrease HR while simultaneously performing muscle contractions of 0%, 10%, 30% and 50% of maximum voluntary contractions. Substantial and reliable variations in HR were produced by instructions and by muscular effort during the first 3 sessions; and in the fourth session bidirectional HR control continued even with the relatively elevated baselines induced by muscular effort. Concomitant chin EMG levels did not vary with degree of muscular effort nor with instructions to increase or decrease HR, but increased over the course of any type of trial. Discussion suggests the use of artificially elevated baselines as a strategy for studying HR deceleration and concludes that the present study provides strong evidence of subjects' abilities to voluntarily control HR during muscular effort. This conclusion lends support to the notion that biofeedback therapies may be of clinical utility in real life by modulating the eliciting effects of stressors.
Auditory Acuity During Sleep
Authors: Rousey Clyde L.
Published: February 2007

This research investigated auditory acuity during various stages of sleep. Respiration audiometry procedures were used to complete the study. A group of 20 neurologically impaired children and 30 normal appearing children comprised the sample. Thirty‐one of the subjects were male and 19 female. Positive findings were significantly better auditory acuity during sleep for females than males, and a progressive loss of acuity for individual subjects regardless of sex from a waking state through sleep stages 2, 3, and 4.
Slow Cortical Potentials Under Conditions of Uncontrollability
Authors: Rockstroh Brigitte , Elbert Thomas , Lutzenberger Werner , Birbaumer Niels
Published: February 2007

The present experiment investigates the influence of an unexpected change from an escape paradigm to uncontrollability on slow cortical potentials (SCPs) and autonomic responses (heart rate, skin conductance, and EMG). Two groups of 10 male students each participated in a reaction time experiment; subjects heard one of two warning stimuli (WS) of 6 sec duration, which signaled one of two imperative stimuli (IS), an aversive noise or a neutral tone. Subjects in the experimental group could escape the IS by pressing a microswitch within 300 msec after the onset of the IS. This possibility to escape was interrupted after an experimental period of 40 trials for another period of 40 trials, during which the IS lasted for 5 sec irrespective of the actual motor response of the subject. Yoked control subjects received WS and IS in the same sequence and length as the matched experimental partner but without having any experience of control of the IS.

During the WS‐interval all subjects showed a two‐component negative shift of SCPs. In response to the uncontrollable aversive IS during the second experimental period, experimental subjects showed a marked postimperative negative variation (PINV). No comparable PINV was found in response to the neutral IS or in the yoked control subjects. The PINV was, furthermore, more pronounced in subjects who showed a larger differentiation in the late component of the negative shift between the aversive and the neutral WS during the first 40 trials.
Sudden Swimming Deaths: Cardiac Function, Experimental Anoxia, and Learned Helplessness
Authors: Binik Yitzchak M. , Deikel Stuart M. , Theriault Guy , Shustack Brian , Balthazard Claude
Published: February 2007

Richter's hypothesized mechanism of sudden swimming deaths—parasympathetic overstimulation mediated by helplessness—is examined in domestic rats. EKG recordings of sudden swimming deaths (SSD) indicated a consistent pattern of cardiac function including severe bradycardias and arrhythmias followed by atrioventricular block leading ultimately to asystole. Rats which survived the swimming stress showed a transient bradycardia followed by a return to baseline HR levels. Swimming behavior and cardiac function were shown to be closely related. Anoxia is suggested as the mechanism of death and data indicating the involvement of the diving reflex in rats are presented. Helplessness induced by pretreatment with inescapable shock did not affect SSD. These data are consistent with a parasympathetic overstimulation hypothesis but disconfirm mediation by helplessness. The implications of these results for the generality of learned helplessness and for the study of psychosocial factors in SSD are discussed.
Differential Right Hemisphere Involvement in Two Reading Tasks
Authors: Ornstein Robert , Herron Jeannine , Johnstone Jack , Swencionis Charles
Published: February 2007

Verbal tasks are typically assumed to be processed by the left cerebral hemisphere, but the right hemisphere may have some role in language. EEG alpha was recorded from homologous central and parietal scalp locations of 12 male subjects reading technical passages and stories. Reading stories engaged the central area of the right hemisphere more than reading technical material. There was no significant difference in reading speed. Thus, some aspects of reading differentially involve the right hemisphere.
Voluntary Heart Rate Control as a Function of Individual Differences in Electrodermal Lability
Authors: Katkin Edward S. , Shapiro David
Published: February 2007

Twenty‐four male subjects were run in a paradigm in which they were first asked to rest for 10 min and then given 20 1‐min training trials of analog and digital feedback of their heart rate, with instructions to increase the rate. Subjects were rewarded with 0.2 cents for each interbeat interval that was faster than a designated criterion. Subjects were subdivided into “labile” and “stabile” groups on the basis of frequency of spontaneous skin conductance fluctuations during the baseline period. Mean heart rate for the training trials was compared with the baseline period for the most labile and most stabile subjects. Results indicated that there was a significant treatment effect for stabile subjects only, but not for labile subjects.
Modification of Primary and Secondary Startle Reactions to Acoustic Stimuli in the Rat
Authors: Pinckney Linda , Ison James R.
Published: February 2007

In Experiment 1 rats received an intense tone burst (S2) alone or preceded by a white noise (S1) with a lead time of 60 msec or 10 sec. In Experiment 2 S2 was given when HR increases produced by S1 were at a peak or had returned to baseline, and a light flash (L) was given 60 msec before S2 on half of the trials. Skeletal and HR responses to S1 and S2 were measured. The cardiac startle response to S2 consisted of an immediate acceleration, a deceleration and trough at 1–2 sec, an acceleration and peak at 4–5 sec, and a recovery. With a 60‐msec lead time S1 or L inhibited the skeletal startle reflex and the accelerative HR reactions. With a long lead time S1 facilitated the skeletal startle reflex and in some conditions also provided a faster HR at the peak of the second HR acceleration. No correlation was observed between the amplitudes of skeletal and cardiac startle behavior, but these post‐S2 responses entered into complex relationships with pre‐S2 HR.
Psychophysical and Psychophysiological Evaluation of the Direction, Intensity, and Meaning of Race‐Related Stimuli
Authors: Tursky Bernard , Lodge Milton , Reeder Richard
Published: February 2007

The reliance of social scientists on verbal response measures to evaluate social psychological attitude raises questions related to the validity of the measurement of intensity and meaning produced by these judgmental measures. This study presents a cross‐modal (psychophysical and psychophysiological) approach to the evaluation of the direction, intensity, and meaning of attitude. In the present study psychophysical (category, magnitude scaling) and classically conditioned skin conductance responses are generated to measure the race‐related attributes of a series of denotatively black and non‐black political stimuli. The results of this study clearly demonstrate that all three measures can predict the racial direction of these stimulus items, but that categorical judgments fail to measure the relative intensity of the denotatively nonracial stimuli. The psychophysical and classically conditioned skin conductance response measures both produce a reasonable gradient of racial response intensity. However, there are clear differences in order and amplitude of response between the voluntary judgmental psychophysical and the more involuntary skin conductance responses to items which have multiple associative meanings. The implications of these results are discussed and suggestions are made for future research.
The Effect of Presleep Focal Attention Load on Subsequent Sleep Patterns
Authors: Glaubman Hananyah , Orbach Israel , Gross Ygal , Aviram Orit , Frieder Irene , Frieman Meira , Pelled Odeda
Published: February 2007

The hypothesis that a load on focal attention prior to sleep results in subsequent changes in sleep patterns was investigated. Eight females and 2 males slept in the laboratory for 4 nights: 2 adaptation nights, 1 experimental night preceded by a focal attention load, and 1 control night preceded by relaxed activity. On the experimental night, time in bed, total sleep time, and stage REM sleep were significantly longer than on the control night. The results support the hypothesis and suggest that attention during REM sleep has a unique character.
Coping with Impending Stress: Psychophysiological and Cognitive Correlates of Choice
Authors: Miller Suzanne M.
Published: February 2007

When faced with threat of shock, individuals were allowed to choose to distract themselves by listening to Muzak or to monitor cues predicting shock. Preference for monitoring information or for distraction was investigated concurrently with electrodermal and subjective arousal. Subjects preferred to monitor rather than distract themselves, particularly when shock was avoidable. Even when shock was not avoidable, some preference for information was found. Arousal, physiological and subjective, was consistently higher under monitoring conditions, and this was most pronounced when shock was unavoidable. Higher arousal accompanying information is contrary to the three major theories explaining choice of predictable threat, and the outline of a new hypothesis was proposed to account for these data.
A Variable Criterion Circuit for Biofeedback Training
Authors: Myers Harold K. , Corson John A. , Klassen Gerald A.
Published: February 2007

A circuit is described which provides feedback from one of many varying physiological parameters by comparing the instantaneous present value to an integrated version of the same parameter. A success or failure signal is generated when the instantaneous value falls below or exceeds the integrated level. Furthermore, the integrated level is continually updated, so that eventually (depending on the selected time constant) the integrated level will equal the instantaneous level if it remains stable; thus a trainee cannot succeed or fail for a long period of time. A design for a continuous analog display of the values on an oscilloscope is also described.
Acoustically Evoked Esophageal Contractions and Defense Reaction
Authors: Stacher Georg , Steinringer Hermann , Blau Alisa , Landgraf Monika
Published: February 2007

To determine whether acoustically evoked non‐propulsive esophageal contractions form part of an orientation (OR), a defense (DR), or a startle reaction (SR), an experiment employing 16 healthy young subjects was carried out with three levels of intensity, two levels of signal content, and two levels of rise and decay time of stimuli. It was found that: 1) number and amplitude of esophageal contractions to the stimuli increased significantly with increasing stimulus intensity, 2) number and amplitude of contractions to stimuli with sudden and slow rise time did not differ, 3) there was no clear relationship between the occurrence of a contraction and the occurrence of a decelerative or accelerative HR response, 4) there was no difference in number and amplitude of contractions to stimuli with and without signal content. In conclusion, non‐propulsive esophageal contractions are evoked by intense acoustical stimuli regardless of rise time and of signal content of the stimuli. It is suggested that contractile responses of the esophagus to intense exogenous stimuli form part of the DR of the healthy organism.
The Orienting Reflex: Novelty or Significance Detector?
Authors: O'Gorman J. G.
Published: February 2007

The hypothesis separately advanced by A. S. Bernstein and I. Maltzman that significance and not novelty is the agent of the orienting reflex (OR) is examined. The data on individual differences and the effects of set appealed to as grounds for a revision of the traditional novelty‐based theory of the OR are found to be explainable within that theory. Moreover, the significance hypothesis is found to have logical and theoretical shortcomings which prevent its replacing, at this time, the traditional viewpoint. On balance, it is argued, the OR is most validly conceived of as a detector of stimulus‐induced novelty, though further research is necessary to clarify a number of specific issues.
Orienting Reflexes and Significance: A Reply to O'Gorman
Authors: Maltzman Irving
Published: February 2007

A psychophysiological theory of ORs is presented within the framework of methodological behaviorism. Contrary to O'Gorman there is extensive evidence supporting the distinction between voluntary and involuntary ORs. There is also good evidence indicating that the operation of sets predetermine the occurrence of ORs. A theoretical physiological basis is available to account for the phenomena of set: dominant foci. The latter conception also provides a physiological basis for stimulus significance and permits an integration of diverse phenomena involving ORs, including classical and verbal conditioning.
The Three Arousal Model: Implications of Gray's Two‐Factor Learning Theory for Heart Rate, Electrodermal Activity, and Psychopathy
Authors: Fowles Don C.
Published: February 2007

Gray's two‐factor learning theory postulates a behavioral activation system (BAS), a behavioral inhibition system (BIS), and a nonspecific arousal system receiving excitatory inputs from both the BAS and the BIS. The BAS initiates behavior in response to conditioned stimuli for reward (approach) or for relieving nonpunishment (active avoidance). The BIS, which is viewed as an anxiety system, inhibits behavior in response to cues for punishment (passive avoidance) or frustrative nonreward (extinction), and its activity is decreased by the anti‐anxiety drugs (alcohol, barbiturates, minor tranquilizers). Thus, the BIS is an arousal system which inhibits rather than energizes behavior.

A review of the literature suggests that heart rate (HR) is strongly associated with activity of the BAS. This interpretation subsumes the previous findings of cardiac‐somatic coupling, incentive effects on HR, and increased HR in connection with active coping in the face of threat. Electrodermal activity (EDA), on the other hand, increases when there is an activation of the BIS. A consideration of these differing effects on HR and EDA permits a specification of conditions in which these two measures will or will not show directional fractionation.

With this theoretical model it is possible to relate the clinical features of psychopathy to the psychophysiological data with the single assumption that primary psychopaths have a deficient BIS. As a result, they show normal approach, active avoidance, and HR, but they suffer from poor passive avoidance and extinction with reduced EDA in response to threatening stimuli.
Autonomic and Behavioral Responses in Coma Due to Drug Overdose
Authors: Schuri Uwe , von Cramon Detlev
Published: February 2007

In this study the relationship between autonomic and behavioral susceptibility to stimulation was investigated in 27 patients with different levels of coma due to drug overdose. The degree of impairment was determined with the Munich Coma Scale (MCS). During presentation of four stimuli (optical, acoustic, tactile, electrical) behavioral responses as well as changes in heart rate, finger pulse amplitude, and electrodermal activity were studied. Heart rate responses were closely related to behavioral changes in severely comatose patients; however, this linkage was not as obvious in less severe cases. Finger pulse responses almost invariably accompanied behavioral reactions at all coma levels. Sensitivity to stimulation and correlation with behavioral reactivity was lowest for electrodermal responses.
Heart Rate and Somatic Concomitants of Mental Imagery
Authors: Jones Gary E. , Johnson Harold J.
Published: February 2007

This investigation further explored the relationship between image activity level and the magnitude of cardiac acceleration during mental imagery. Somatic involvement was manipulated by instructions to tense or relax during imagination of preselected imagery stimuli and through a tense‐only control procedure. In addition, images were repeated 10 times to permit an analysis of rate or degree of response habituation. Forty‐eight subjects were divided into four groups who were instructed to image only, tense while imagining, relax while imagining, and tense‐only using a time‐locked pacing methodology. High and low activity images were found to elicit clear differential cardiac responding with significantly greater acceleration produced to high activity images. However, associated change was also noted in several somatic and respiratory measures. Results also showed that biphasic cardiac activity during imagery was similar but not identical to that produced by somatic tension. Habituation appears most prominent over the first three or four repetitions, but significant responding was maintained on the tenth repetition. Self‐report measures indicated that physiological state or group instructions may alter important image characteristics.
Skin Conductance Conditioning to Potentially Phobic Stimuli as a Function of Interstimulus Interval and Delay Versus Trace Paradigm
Authors: Hugdahl Kenneth , ÖHman Arne
Published: February 2007

Because prepared learning has been defined in terms of response acquisition in spite of degraded input, it was expected that differences in resistance to extinction between skin conductance responses conditioned to potentially phobic and neutral stimuli would increase with increased interstimulus interval (ISI) and be larger with a trace than with a delay conditioning paradigm. Twelve groups with 10 subjects each were observed in a differential conditioning experiment manipulating ISI (2, 8, or 16 sec), paradigm (delay versus trace), and fear‐relevance of the conditioned stimulus (potentially phobic versus neutral). The results showed highly reliable resistance to extinction of first‐interval anticipatory responses to phobic stimuli, and no resistance to extinction of the corresponding responses to the neutral stimuli. This difference did not interact either with the ISI or the paradigm factor. Thus, although underscoring the reliability of the difference in conditioning to potentially phobic and neutral stimuli, the results did not support the specific hypothesis of conditioning to phobic stimuli as being less dependent on the ISI parameters than conditioning to neutral stimuli.
Retention of Differential Autonomic Conditioning and Memory for Conditional Stimulus Relationships
Authors: Hammond G. S. , Baer P. E. , Fuhrer M. J.
Published: February 2007

Corollary to the hypothesis that awareness of the conditional stimulus relationships is necessary for the acquisition of differential conditioning, it was predicted that memory for the conditional stimulus relationships (i.e., awareness at retention testing) would be necessary for the retention of differential autonomic conditioning. Groups of 20 subjects each were tested for retention of differential skin conductance and vasomotor conditioning, differential expectancies of the unconditional stimulus, and memory for the CS‐US relationships either 1 day or 28 days after initial acquisition. A continuous measure of expectancy of the unconditional stimulus was obtained during initial acquisition and retention testing. Retention testing consisted of a series of unreinforced presentations of the conditional stimuli and a reacquisition series. The 28‐day interval resulted in more forgetting of the conditional stimulus relationships and greater retention loss of differential autonomic conditioning and differential US expectancies than did the 1‐day interval. Within the group tested after 28 days, retention loss was related to the subjects' post‐experimental reports of whether or not they remembered the CS‐US relationships. Subjects reporting having forgotten showed complete retention loss of differential autonomic conditioning and differential US expectancies while subjects reporting having remembered showed good retention, similar to that shown after the 1‐day retention interval. The hypothesis that memory for the conditional stimulus relationships is necessary for retention of autonomic conditioning was supported. It was also found that long‐term memory for the conditional stimulus relationships was related to greater autonomic responsivity during initial acquisition.
Interaction of a Motor Response, and Reaction Time and Time Estimation Tasks, on Heart Rate and Skin Conductance
Authors: Cohen Michael J. , Johnson Harold J. , McArthur David L.
Published: February 2007

The influence of motor responding and typical psychophysiological tasks on heart rate was tested by manipulating motor requirements of reaction time (RT) and time estimation (TE) tasks. Thirty‐four volunteers were assigned randomly to four groups. Two groups squeezed a hand dynamometer at the start of a trial and the other two groups squeezed at the finish of the trial. The force of the squeeze was also manipulated: either 3 kg (3) or 7 kg (7). The four groups were Start 3, Start 7, Finish 3, and Finish 7. All subjects participated in the TE and RT tasks. The dependent variables were measurements of forearm flexor muscle tension, heart rate and skin conductance. It was found that the manipulations of when and with what force a person squeezed the dynamometer resulted in reliable group differences in muscle tension. The magnitude of acceleratory components of the triphasic (acceleration‐deceleration‐acceleration) cardiac response was amplified by tension. The magnitude of the deceleratory component seemed to depend on both muscle tension and stimulus processing. Except for the magnitude of the response‐bound deceleration, RT and TE produced very similar heart rate responses, and skin conductance did not differ among groups. The data were interpreted as providing evidence that motor response acts as an amplifier for the phasic HR produced by common psychological paradigms.
Directing Attention Toward Stimuli Affects the P300 But Not the Orienting Response
Authors: Becker David E. , Shapiro David
Published: February 2007

Whether attending to stimuli affects the orienting response and its habituation is not yet clear. EEG alpha suppression responses, electrodermal responses, and EEG evoked potential responses of two groups of subjects were compared. The Attend group was given instructions to pay attention to and count the 59 moderate intensity clicks (interstimulus interval = 15 sec). The Ignore group was instructed to “try not to let the clicks disturb your relaxed state.” Separate ANOVAs with repeated measures were used to evaluate all measures, and all showed significant effects for click repetition (habituation). Alpha suppression and change in log conductance showed no differences related to group. The P300 component of the average evoked potentials was significantly larger for the Attend group. We concluded that attending to, versus ignoring, stimuli does not have an appreciable effect on these two traditional measures of the orienting response, but it does affect the evoked potentials. The relationship between attention and “significance” is discussed.
The Effects of Expectancy Upon Electrodermal Responses to Signaled Stimuli
Authors: Grings William W. , Vucelic Ingeborg , Peeke Shirley C.
Published: February 2007

The research evaluates the role of expectancy in determining magnitude of electrodermal response to a moderately loud noise. Main emphasis was upon comparisons of response magnitudes when the intensity received confirmed that which was expected and when the intensity received was different from that expected. Based on preliminary observations which suggested that response magnitudes shifted in a direction corresponding to stimulus intensity expected, the experiment varied direction of change and evaluated subjective intensity of stimuli received, as well as magnitude of electrodermal responding. Perceived intensities of the noise stimuli were influenced by the direction of shift in the same fashion as electrodermal response magnitudes. Examination of factors determining electrodermal responses to the noises showed several contributing variables: the direction of shift from expectation, the subjective intensity of stimuli, and the amount of anticipatory electrodermal activity just prior to noise onset.
Carotid dP/dt as a Psychophysiological Index of Sympathetic Myocardial Effects: Some Considerations
Authors: Heslegrave Ronald J. , Furedy John J.
Published: February 2007

Heart rate (HR) is modulated by both branches of the autonomic nervous system. Therefore, the neural regulation of a specific change in HR cannot be deduced from HR changes per se. For example, HR deceleration cannot be interpreted as being due to sympathetic nervous system withdrawal and/or parasympathetic nervous system activation. It is quite possible that sympathetic activation may be dominated by parasympathetic antagonism. To determine neurogenic influences on the heart, one group of researchers have focused on measuring contractility aspects of ventricular function since it has been demonstrated that the ventricles are sympathetically dominated. This paper assesses the validity of contractility‐based dP/dt measures as indices of ventricular function, and thus of sympathetic activity, being especially concerned with the noninvasive carotid dP/dt measure which is of particular significance to psychophysiologists. The validation examination consists of an exploration into the underlying physiology of dP/dt measures as well as a critical appraisal of empirical psychophysiological findings related to dP/dt. Other important parameters related to psychophysiological measures, such as obtrusiveness and quantification, are also discussed. The conclusion is that carotid dP/dt has not been adequately validated for use by psychophysiologists and until such basic research is carried out, this psychophysiological index of sympathetic activity cannot seriously be considered a measure of sympathetic, betaadrenergic, or even ventricular function.
Voluntary Control of Pulse Transmission Time to the Ear
Authors: Newlin David , Levenson Robert W.
Published: February 2007

Two experiments involving voluntary control of pulse transmission time (PTT) to the ear were performed. In Experiment I (within‐subject, 3 sessions), 12 male subjects attempting to control PTT with feedback showed significant bidirectional PTT changes in the target directions accompanied by parallel changes in pre‐ejection period (PEP). There was no evidence of concomitant changes in respiration rate or general somatic activity. PTT control deteriorated across sessions.

In Experiment II (between‐subjects, 3 sessions), 10 male subjects attempting to decrease PTT with feedback produced significant PTT decreases accompanied by PEP decreases. There was marginal evidence of increases in respiration rate but no changes in general somatic activity in this condition. Five subjects attempting to increase PTT with feedback and 5 subjects attempting bidirectional PTT control without feedback showed no significant changes in PTT or PEP.

The results from these experiments indicate that subjects demonstrate a modest degree of control over PTT to the ear when provided with feedback. This control of PTT is accompanied by parallel changes in PEP but is relatively free of somatic and respiratory concomitance.
Coronary Risk and Coping with Aversive Stimuli
Authors: van Doornen Lorenz J. P. , Orlebeke J. F. , Somsen Riek J. M.
Published: February 2007

In this research the effects of predictability of an aversive stimulus on GSR amplitude and the cardiac anticipation of that stimulus were investigated as a function of coronary risk. Thirty male infarction patients, 16 controls with high‐ and 18 controls with low‐infarction risk, received 10 aversive auditory stimuli, 5 of which were preceded by a warning signal. Predictability reduced GSR amplitude in all groups but significantly more in the low‐risk group as compared with the patients and the high‐risk group. Cardiac anticipatory acceleration was significantly stronger in the low risk group than in the other two groups. These results were discussed in terms of the effects of anxiety and attention on coping with aversive stimuli.
Component Configuring in Compound Electrodermal Conditioning with Human Subjects
Authors: Gilman John H.
Published: February 2007

Of 36 subjects, two groups with 12 human subjects in each received long delay electrodermal conditioning with either 10 or 30 compound CS‐US trials, while a truly random control group (n=12) received 30 compound CS presentations and 30 shock stimuli. Following compound conditioning the three conditioning groups were presented with the compound and component stimuli to assess configurational conditioning. Unlike previous compound conditioning studies, the present work demonstrated configurational conditioning by showing that the elements of the compound stimulus (simultaneous light plus tone) had no conditioned properties following compound conditioning to asymptote or compound overtraining. Orienting reflexes preceding the component responses in testing were not enhanced by extended compound conditioning, when compared to those evoked by component stimuli trained in compound to asymptote. This result suggested that the diminution in component CRs found in the overtrained treatments of previous research was not the result of enhanced orienting reflexes to component stimuli assumed to disrupt component conditioning, but to the emergence of configurational conditioning.
Facial Muscle Patterning and Subjective Experience During Affective Imagery: Sex Differences
Authors: Schwartz Gary E. , Brown Serena‐Lynn , Ahern Geoffrey L.
Published: February 2007

Facial electromyographic (EMG) activity was recorded from the zygomatic, corrugator, masse‐ter and frontalis muscle regions in 30 male and 30 female subjects. Forty‐eight items were selected to reflect happy, sad, angry and fearful situations. Subjects imagined each of the items for 40 sec and rated how they felt on a scale tapping the four emotions. The results indicated that for certain emotions, muscle regions and ratings, females (as compared to males): 1) generated facial EMG patterns of greater magnitude (relative to rest) during affective imagery, 2) reported a stronger experience of emotion to the imagery, 3) showed greater within‐subject correlations between the experience of emotions and facial EMG, 4) evidenced somewhat higher corrugator and significantly lower masseter EMG activity during rest, and 5) generated greater facial EMG changes during a post‐imagery, voluntary facial expression condition. Cultural and biological interpretations of the data are considered. The importance of evaluating gender in psychophysiological studies of emotion is stressed.
The Status of Skin Conductance Recovery Time: An Examination of the Bundy Effect
Authors: Venables P. H. , Fletcher R. P.
Published: February 2007

The independent status of recovery of the skin conductance response has been an important assumption underlying work in which electrodermal responses to different task demands have been examined or in studies in which different psychopathological groups have been differentiated. Doubts on this issue have recently been raised by Bundy and Fitzgerald (1975). The present study examines data on this point from two samples and suggests that it is still worthwhile to treat SCR recovery as an independent variable.
Prior Activity as a Determinant of Electrodermal Recovery Rate
Authors: Edelberg Robert , Muller Michael
Published: February 2007

This study attempts to assess Bundy's 1974 report that electrodermal recovery rate (ERR) can be accurately predicted by a variable, X, based on the recency and amplitude of prior activity. Five different types of assessment were made with the following results. (1) ERR was significantly related to X in two paradigms which avoided the temporal constraints of Bundy's experiment. (2) ERR of responses to repeated reaction time stimuli could be altered by controlling the magnitude of X. (3) A change in stimulus from a reaction time signal to a loud noise failed to change ERR when the value for X was held constant and when response amplitude was treated as a covariate. (4) The rank order of ERRs for reaction time signals and for loud sounds could be reversed by controlling the magnitude of X. (5) Differences in ERR associated with a cold pressor exposure and a mirror tracing task were reevaluated taking into account prior activity. Analysis of covariance with Bundy's X as the covariate failed to erase the difference. However, with a new covariate, namely the number of electrodermal responses in the 15 sec before the measured response, the difference in ERR became nonsignificant. In agreement with Bundy, prior activity appears to represent a major determinant of recovery rate. It is suggested that for those studies reporting ERR differences, attention should be focused on the biobehavioral implications of the likely differences in prior activity.
Electrophysiological and Psychophysical Measures of Interocular Suppression
Authors: May James G. , Russell Harter M. , Siegfried John B.
Published: February 2007

Previous studies of the effect of interocular suppression on VEP amplitude have shown that gratings presented steadily to one eye result in a significant reduction in the amplitude of VEPs elicited by flashed gratings in the other eye when orientation and spatial frequency of gratings presented to each eye are similar. The present study reveals that psychophysical thresholds for flashed gratings are significantly elevated when subjects view checkerboards having fundamental Fourier components of the same spatial frequency and orientation in the contralateral eye. This effect is greater in the periphery than in the fovea. Checkerboard stimuli of different orientation had no differential interocular suppressing effects on VEPs to flashed gratings. These results suggest that while psychophysical detection of patterned stimuli relies most on the fundamental Fourier components, VEP amplitude is equally influenced by the fundamental and higher harmonic spatial frequency components. The VEP to patterned stimuli derives, for the most part, from macular stimulation, but the influence of the fundamental Fourier components on the psychophysical threshold is greater in retinal areas adjacent to the macula.
Two‐Year Retest Stability of Eye Tracking Performance and a Comparison of Electro‐oculographic and Infrared Recording Techniques: Evidence of EEG in the Electro‐oculogram
Authors: Iacono William G. , Lykken David T.
Published: February 2007

This study assessed the quantitative and qualitative comparability of simultaneously recorded electrooculographic (EOG) and infrared (IR) measures of eye movement and the long‐term retest stability of the EOG. Fifty‐two twins, all of whom performed the same tasks while the EOG was recorded two years ago, engaged in smooth‐pursuit tracking of sinusoidally driven targets ranging in frequency from. 4 to 1.2 Hz and in saccadic tracking of a modified square wave target. In addition to computer‐derived estimates of smooth‐pursuit and saccadic eye tracking proficiency, a measure of saccadic interference during smooth‐pursuit tracking and ratings of the amount of small‐amplitude spiky oscillation in the EOG were made. Two‐year retest stability of these various measures varied from .54 to .83 and were similar to within‐session and one‐week retest reliabilities computed for these same subjects. Correlations between computer‐derived EOG and IR scores ranged from.89 to.99 indicating good correspondence between the two methods. Qualitative EOG‐IR comparability was not high for subjects who showed a pronounced spiky oscillation in the EOG. Spectral analyses of the EOG and concurrently recorded EEG suggest that this spiky rhythm represents EEG (perhaps kappa or alpha), the presence of which is correlated with poor eye tracking.
Randomization Test of Paired Data: Application to Evoked Responses
Authors: Martin Donald C. , Buffington Veronica , Becker Joseph
Published: February 2007

This paper describes a randomization test for similarities in observation vectors between pairs of subjects. Visual evoked response data for pairs of relatives were used in an example of the test. The randomization test does not require any distributional assumptions and can be applied to both univariate and multivariate cases. The basic procedure has three steps. First, some measure of similarity between subject pairs is defined. Second, the distribution of average similarity under random pairings is found. Third, if the average similarity for observed pairs is in the tail of the distribution generated by the assumption of random pairings, the hypothesis of no greater than chance similarity is rejected. The distribution of average similarity under the assumption of random pairings is approximated using a permutation central limit theorem. The randomization test can be used instead of Barttlet's test for nonzero canonical correlations.
Stimulus Characteristics Influencing Estimation of Heart Rate
Authors: Pennebaker James W.
Published: February 2007

Two experiments examined the degree to which external stimulus factors and actual HR influence judgments of HR, general accuracy of estimated HR, and self‐perceptions of accuracy. Both studies employed a heartbeat tracking technique while subjects viewed a series of slides (Experiment 1) or were engaged in various tasks (Experiment 2). The results indicated that HR judgment is more dependent on external stimuli than on actual HR. No settings increased the generally poor levels of accuracy of estimated HR. The results indicate that HR estimation is dependent to a large degree on an inference process.
Skin Conductance Responses to Stimulus “Energy” Decreases Following Habituation
Authors: Magliero Anthony , Gatchel Robert J. , Lojewski David
Published: February 2007

Two experiments are reported in which a reduction in tone intensity or duration followed habituation. Experiment I, which employed 120 subjects, assessed the effects of type of stimulus change (intensity or duration) and trial of change (trial 5 or trial 22) on orienting response (OR) recovery. Experiment II employed 131 subjects, and examined the effects of reduction of stimulus intensity on trial 22 or after subjects reached a predetermined habituation criterion. Experiment I demonstrated OR reappearance following the offset of a shortened stimulus. The combined findings of Experiments I and II suggest that the effects of reducing stimulus intensity depend on when the change is made. In Experiment I, reducing stimulus intensity on trial 5 led to a significant decrease in OR magnitude. In Experiment II, increases in OR magnitude were produced by reducing stimulus intensity either after reaching a criterion or after 21 habituation trials. These findings suggest a Sokolovian view of the development of the generalization gradient of habituation. Results also revealed large individual differences in responding to the stimulus change in Experiment II. Multiple regression analyses of these data were therefore conducted, which allowed two further conclusions to be drawn: First, initial electrodermal state can be used to predict responding on the stimulus change trial. Second, with long habituation training (21 trials), the role of the initial state variables diminishes while other variables representing change over the experimental session become more prominent in predicting responding to stimulus change.