bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The frequency of nasal carriage in chronic urticaria patients
Authors: Ertam I , Yuksel Biyikli SE , Akin Yazkan F , Aytimur D , Alper S
Published: February 2007

Objective  Chronic urticaria is characterized by oedema of the skin and mucous membranes. Although many agents have been implicated, aetiology is unknown in 70 to 75% of patients. Infections and foci of chronic infections are most commonly held responsible for chronic urticaria. In this study, the frequency of nasal carriage as the occult focus of infection and sensitivity to antimicrobials are explored in patients with chronic urticaria.

Material and method  Ninety‐four patients with chronic urticaria and 30 controls participated in the study, which was carried out at the Ege university medical faculty, department of dermatology between January 2004 and January 2005. Nasal swab specimens were taken from the patients and controls and incubated at 37 °C degrees for 48 h, and inoculated on standard bacterial medium (blood agar). Antimicrobial susceptibility of a growth from isolates of the nasal swab specimens was conducted. Data were analysed statistically using chi‐square and Mann–Whitney U‐tests.

Results  Ninety‐four patients with chronic urticaria (72.3% female and 27.7% male) and 30 controls (63.3% female and 36.7% male) comprised the study group. Mean age of the patients and controls were 42.6 and 33.8 years, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in swab specimens from the nasal cavity in 50 of the 94 patients (53.2%) with chronic urticaria and four of the 30 controls (13.3%). Testing revealed that the most susceptible antibiotics were cefaclor, ceftriaxone, amoxycillin‐clavulanic acid, amikacin, netilmicin, and fucidic acid.

Conclusion  Growth on cultures prepared from nasal swab specimens of chronic urticaria patients was statistically higher than the control group. We detected resistance to growth against mupirocin, an antibiotic frequently used in nasal carriage. High nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in patients with chronic urticaria compared to controls suggests that nasal carriage as a focus of infection should be kept in mind as aetiology.
A LONG‐TERM ELECTRODE SYSTEM FOR ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY AND IMPEDANCE PNEUMOGRAPHY
Authors: Day J. L. , Lippitt M. W.
Published: February 2007

This electrode system for electrocardiography and impedance pneumography is an extension of the one used on Project Mercury, Detailed description is given of the manufacturing procedure for the silver‐silver chloride electrodes, for the preparation of a non‐irritating electrode paste and for the application of the electrodes. Tests were made on 21 subjects up to 90 hours. Only nine electrodes failed during the entire test during which subjects engaged in active sports, bathed, etc. Irritation of the skin was minimal.
LEARNED STABILIZATION OF CARDIAC RATE
Authors: Hnatiow Michael , Lang Peter J.
Published: February 2007

Human subjects learned to reduce cardiac‐rate variability when a visual display provided synchronous feedback of their own heart rate. The increased stability was unaccompanied by significant changes in average heart rate, and was relatively unrelated to respiration changes.
EFFECTS OF CONCURRENT MOTOR ACTIVITY ON THE UNCONDITIONED SALIVARY REFLEX
Authors: Feather Ben W. , Wells David T.
Published: February 2007

This study tested the hypothesis that the relative amount of swallowing and mouth movement affects the amplitude, latency, and temporal course of the salivary unconditioned reflex (UR). Twenty‐four subjects were given three identical stimuli, which consisted of 3 cc of 0.5% citric acid, delivered to the left lateral margin of the posterior half of the tongue. The stimuli were administered under three different conditions for each subject: (1) swallowing and mouth movements permitted for the first 30 sec and prohibited for the second 30 sec following stimulation, (2) swallowing and mouth movements prohibited for the first 30 sec and permitted for the second 30 sec following stimulation, and (3) swallowing and mouth movements permitted for 60 sec following stimulation. Saliva was collected by a parotid capsule and measured by a sensitive, liquid displacement sialometer. Motor activity was monitored by electromyogram. There was a significantly greater (P < 0.01) amount of saliva secreted during periods of motor activity, regardless of time since stimulation. Voluntary inhibition of swallowing immediately after acid stimulation resulted in significantly longer and more variable UR latencies. Implications of these findings for studies on salivary conditioning are discussed.
OPERANT CONDITIONING OF HEART RATE SPEEDING
Authors: Engel Bernard T. , Chism Ray A.
Published: February 2007

The purpose of this study was to see if heart rate (HR) speeding could be operantly conditioned. Five experimental Ss and five yoked‐control Ss were studied. Experimental Ss were positively reinforced for speeding their HR on a beat‐by‐beat basis, whereas yoked‐control Ss were reinforced in a pattern based on the performance of paired experimental Ss. The data showed that: all Ss learned to speed their HR; some yoked‐controls responded with a pattern of response that included increased HR; and the techniques which Ss use to regulate their HR vary widely from one S to another.
SKIN RESISTANCE, SWEAT‐GLAND COUNTS, SALIVARY FLOW, AND GASTRIC SECRETION: AGE, RACE, AND SEX DIFFERENCES, ANDINTERCORRELATIONS
Authors: Juniper Kerrison , Dykman Roscoe A.
Published: February 2007

Skin resistance, sweat‐gland counts, salivary flow, gastric secretion, and pH were measured in volunteers and patients of both sexes, Negroes and Caucasians. Correlational analysis suggested two negatively related clusters: (A) salivary flow, sweat‐gland counts, and gastric secretion; and (B) age, skin resistance, and pH. Skin resistance was higher in Negroes than Caucasians, and in females than males, increasing irregularly with age.
THE INFLUENCE OF SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS ON LATENCY OF THE GALVANIC SKIN REFLEX
Authors: Surwillo Walter W.
Published: February 2007

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of differences in motivativation and in attention on latency of the endosomatic GSR. Using verbal instructions, two different levels of motivation were induced in a group of 37 Ss who performed a simple reaction task in which they pressed a button whenever a 250 cycle tone was presented. The same tone also served as a stimulus for eliciting the GSR. In a second experiment, 42 different Ss performed a similar reaction task, but in this case the stimulus was the 250 cycle tone or a 1,000 cycle tone of equal subjective intensity. Ss were asked to give a voluntary response to all tones irrespective of frequency and then, later on, to respond only when the 1,000 cycle tone was presented.

Although voluntary reaction times were significantly shorter under conditions of high as compared with low motivation, latency of the GSR did not differ for the two conditions. In the second experiment, significantly shorter GSR latencies were recorded under the condition where Ss were required to pay closer attention to the stimulus.
A COMPARISON OF PHYSIOLOGICAL INDICES IN DETECTION OE DECEPTION
Authors: Thackray Richard I. , Orne Martin T.
Published: February 2007

Physiological measures—breathing amplitude (BA), breathing cycle time (BCT), galvanic skin response (GSR), skin potential response (SPR), systolic blood pressure (BP), oxygen saturation level (O2S), finger volume (FV), and pulse volume (PV)—were compared with respect to their relative efficiency in discriminating deception in a lie detection experiment. Thirty Ss were tested. Stimuli consisted of personal words and neutral words made relevant in the context of a mock crime paradigm. Only GSR, SPR, and FV consistently discriminated better than chance, with GSR and SPR significantly superior to FV. BA and O2S yielded some evidence of discrimination, but were inconsistent across stimulus material.
PSEUDO‐EFFECTS OF EXTERNAL ELECTROLYTE CONCENTRATION ON MEASURED SKIN POTENTIAL LEVELS
Authors: Niimi Yosizumi , Yamazaki Katuo , Watanabe Takami
Published: February 2007

Both the palmar surface of the finger and the skin‐drilled forearm were subjected simultaneously to the same variable concentration of NaCl solution for electrode‐electrolyte. There were no consistent tendencies in the skin potential levels, and no changes in the waveform of skin potential reflexes with varying concentration.
ELECTRODERMAL LEVELS AND FLUCTUATIONS DURING NORMAL SLEEP
Authors: Koumans Alfred J. R. , Tursky Bernard , Solomon Philip
Published: February 2007

All night recordings of skin potential (SP) and skin resistance (SR) levels and rapid electrodermal fluctuations (REFs) were taken from a group of college students during two nights of normal sleep. An attempt was made to associate changes in these measures with stages of sleep as identified by EEG patterns. Electrodermal levels could differentiate between wake and sleep but could not clearly identify individual sleep stages or REM periods. REFs were found to increase in number during slow wave sleep and decrease during Stage I REM periods. This diminution of REFs occurred consistently about six minutes before the onset of each REM period and then returned at a lower rate a few minutes after the termination of the REM period.
SOCIAL RESPONDING IN DOGS: HEART RATE CHANGES TO A PERSON
Authors: Lynch James J. , McCarthy John F.
Published: February 2007

This paper reports the variable conditional effects of a person on the heart rate of nine mongrel dogs. There were three experimental procedures: person present and playing a passive role, person present and playing an active role (petting the dog), and person present and serving as a signal for forthcoming electrical stimulation. The order of presentation of these conditions was counterbalanced with dogs assigned randomly to one of three orders of procedures. Each procedure consisted of 50 trials (exposures to a human). On each trial, the person entered the conditioning room and stood motionless for 40 sec. The petting and shock reinforcements occurred 40 sec after the person entered the room, enabling the study of conditional heart rate changes in the interval from appearance of the person to reinforcement. Heart rate changes varied with the “meaning” of the person, and the rates from high to low were in the order: person serving as a signal for subsequent punishment, person alone, and person serving as a signal for subsequent petting. It was stressed that an experimenter could have marked and varied social‐psychophysiological effects upon the individuals being studied, and that in any experiment it is necessary to properly evaluate these effects.
EFFECTS OF ATTENTION AND ACTIVATION ON THE VISUAL EVOKED CORTICAL POTENTIAL AND REACTION TIME
Authors: Groves Philip M. , Eason Robert G.
Published: February 2007

In the present study an attempt has been made to assess the relative contributions of arousal and attentional factors affecting the amplitude of the visual evoked cortical potential and reaction time latency. Subjects were studied under the following four conditions: (1) passively watching a small, dim, intermittent flash; (2) reacting to each flash by releasing a lever, thereby giving a reaction time; (3) reacting to each flash within a specified period of time in order to avoid an uncomfortable shock to the fingers; (4) reacting to each flash while receiving occasional unavoidable shock. Statistical analyses revealed that the evoked potentials recorded during the avoidable shock condition (3) were significantly larger than during the other three conditions. Reaction times were routinely shorter during condition 3, followed by the no‐shock (2) and then unavoidable shock (4) conditions.
STIMULUS REPETITION RATE FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE THE AUDITORY EVOKED POTENTIAL IN MAN
Authors: Butler Robert A. , Spreng Manfred , Keidel Wolf D.
Published: February 2007

The slow component of the auditory evoked potential in man was investigated under various conditions which produced an increase in stimulus repetition rate. The left ear received a 1000 Hz tone once each 5 sec. Intervening stimuli, also of 1000 Hz, were presented to (1) the right ear, (2) both ears, and (3) the left ear. Their relative influence on response amplitude to periodic left ear stimulation was evaluated.

The results indicated that: (1) intervening right ear stimulation reduced significantly response amplitude to left ear stimulation; (2) presenting the intervening stimuli to both ears simultaneously caused no further decrement in response amplitude; (3) presenting the intervening stimuli to the left ear alone brought about a further and significant decrease in response amplitude to left ear stimulation.

These findings imply that habituation of the auditory evoked potential is greatest when the same pattern of neural activity is repeatedly initiated. When the intervening stimuli elicit a different pattern of neural excitation, habituation is less, even though stimulation rate remains unchanged.
DISCRIMINATION AMONG STATES OFCONSCIOUSNESS USING EEG SPECTRA
Authors: Lubin A. , Johnson L. C. , Austin M. T.
Published: February 2007

EEG recordings were made during waking (W) and the five sleep stages (REM, 1, 2, 3, and 4) on thirteen young adult males. For each stage, one‐minute sections of the pa ietal EEG trace were digitized and subjected to Fourier analysis. The resulting spectral intensities were divided into five frequency bands; delta, theta, alpha, sigma, and beta.

Linear discriminators for all six stages were calculated using stepwise multiple regression. The overall percent agreement with visual scoring was very poor, ranging from zero for stage 3 to 91% for stage 4. Linear discrimination between pairs of stages yielded slightly better results, but stages 1 and REM were indistinguishable.

Delta is the best overall discriminator, increasing significantly through stages W, 1, 2, 3, and 4. Sigma is unique to sleep and is highest for stage 2. Theta is unimportant and beta plays no role at all.

Spectral analysis of the parietal EEG lead is not sufficient to differentiate among the six states of consciousness studied here. The use of detectors for such phasic events as eye movement and K‐complexes might aid sleep stage discrimination considerably.
THE AUDITORY EVOKED RESPONSE TO REPEATED STIMULI DURING A VIGILANCE TASK
Authors: Roth Walton T. , Kopell Bert S.
Published: February 2007

The auditory evoked response was measured between the vertex and left ear in 9 Ss. In an extension of the idea of the recovery function, series of tones, including sets of 5 tone pips with ½, 1, or 2 sec between them, and 11 sec between sets, were presented, while Ss were instructed to press a button whenever there was a change in tone length. Because of the slow recovery of this response, no subtraction procedure was necessary. There were 6 runs representing 6 experimental conditions for each S.

Habituation within runs was not observed, but there was significant habituation between rims in spite of a constant vigilance level. The evoked responses to the second and subsequent stimuli of each set were much smaller than to the first, depending on the interstimulus interval within sets. Evoked responses to 65 db stimuli were less than to 85 db, but showed proportionally the same changes with successive stimuli.
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE ELECTROGASTROGRAM AND GASTRIC ULCERATION DURING EXPOSURE TO STRESS
Authors: Boles John , Russell Roger W.
Published: February 2007

Relations between development of gastric ulceration and changes in motility of the stomach, as recorded by the electrogastrogram (EGG), were studied under conditions where Ss (rats) were exposed to physical (immobilization) and chemical (reserpine) stressors and to the two in combination. Following 36 hrs of the various treatments, all restraint + reserpine Ss were ulcerated; 60% of the restraint‐only Ss had lesions; and, only three of ten no‐restraint Ss showed gastric damage. The same rank order was obtained for the mean number of lesions per group. There were no significant differences among groups in total acidity of the stomach at autopsy immediately after their experimental treatments. The restraint‐only groups showed a trend toward increased gastric motility during the treatment period, while the restraint + reserpine groups showed a progressive decrease in motility, the divergence leading to statistically significant differences as exposure to the different stressors continued. The results do not support the hypothesis that the experimentally‐produced lesions are related to an increase in gastric acidity; they do support the hypothesis that the ulceration is related to changes in gastric motility, more severe lesions appearing in Ss whose motility decreased during the treatment period.
A COMPARISON OF PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS ON ANXIOUS PATIENTS AND NORMAL CONTROLS
Authors: Kelly Desmond , Brown Clinton C. , Shaffer John W.
Published: February 2007

Clinical, psychophysiological, and psychometric measurements were made on 20 normal controls and 30 anxious patients during rest and experimental stress. Resting forearm blood flow, a relatively new physiological index of anxiety, was found to correlate significantly with clinical and subjective ratings of anxiety, and with heart rate, number of spontaneous fluctuations of skin resistance, and amplitude of forearm EMG. It did not correlate significantly with any of the measures of depression. Resting forearm blood flow and heart rate were found to be better measures of arousal in this study than skin resistance, EMG, or cutaneous vasomotor status, since the latter did not show significant differences between anxious patients and normal controls. The psychological traits of the two groups were also assessed by the Maudsley Personality Inventory, Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, and Zung Depression Scale; and their emotional state evaluated by the Clyde Mood Scale and Semantic Differential Scale. Twenty‐one variables showed significant differences between the two groups. Some of these measures have subsequently been used, with advantage, to monitor emotional changes brought about by psychiatric treatment.
SLEEP OF NIGHT WORKERS: EEG RECORDINGS
Authors: Kripke D. F. , Cook B. , Lewis O. F.
Published: February 2007

Ten hospital corpsmen working the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift were selected for a study of night workers. Each completed a questionnaire describing his experiences with night work, and each slept in the laboratory for several days, while continuous EEG recordings were made. Although the quantity and distribution of the EEG sleep stages was not greatly different from that found in night sleep periods, there were some irregularities in the progression of EEG patterns, particularly interruptions in Stage REM sleep. It appeared that Ss slept better, worked better, and felt better after several weeks of assignment to night shift work.
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL INDICANTS OF ACTIVATION
Authors: Eason Robert G. , Dudley Linda M.
Published: February 2007

The present study demonstrates that various central and peripheral physiological variables are similarly altered by experimentally induced changes in activation while being dissimilarly altered during the course of a trial by unknown factors. That is, both general and specific physiological changes are demonstrated in a single experiment. Activation level was experimentally altered by having S (a) react to light flashes under threat of shock, (b) react to flashes without any such threat, and (c) passively observe light flashes. Evoked cortical potentials, heart rate, skin conductance, and muscular tension were similarly affected by these experimental conditions, but the variables showed differential changes over time. It was concluded that these physiological processes simultaneously reflect both generalized arousal and directionally fractionated activity.
THE INFORMATION CONTENT OF THE RECOVERY LIMB OF THE ELECTRODERMAL RESPONSE
Authors: Edelberg Robert
Published: February 2007

Recent observations suggest that skin conductance or resistance responses manifest, in the shape of the recovery limb, two components, a slow one associated with the negative skin potential response and sweating, and a faster one associated with the positive skin potential response and with the recently reported sweat reabsorption response. Part of the recovery limb has an exponential form, and its recovery rate is interpreted as a measure of the relative participation of these two components. Two simple manual methods, utilizing overlays, allow rapid determination of recovery half‐time or time constant. Recovery rate is not determined by amplitude. It can differentiate between spontaneous responses during rest and during a task, between orienting responses to a light flash and responses to the same flash when it takes on signal properties, and between responses to an alerting signal and to an execution signal for a task. Individuals with fast recovery rates during a task also tend to show slower habituation of electrodermal responses. It is concluded that the reabsorption process represents an adaptation for goal‐directed behavior.
SLEEP MENTATION AND AUDITORY AWAKENING THRESHOLDS
Authors: Zimmerman William B.
Published: February 2007

Auditory awakening thresholds (AATs) were assessed in 53 Ss during all stages of sleep and at various times of night. Sixteen of these Ss met previously devised criteria for an AAT light‐sleep group (LSG) and 16 for an AAT deep‐sleep group (DSG). Reports of mental activity were collected during awakenings from REM and NREM sleep and rated on a standard questionnaire by Ss and independent judges. The REM mentation of the LSG and DSG did not differ. However, LSG Ss reported dreaming after 71% of their NREM awakenings, while DSG Ss claimed to have been dreaming after only 21% of their NREM awakenings. This difference was supported by other rating scales and by the independent judges. An hypothesis was offered which suggests that dreaming is a function of the level of cerebral arousal in the absence of reality contact, regardless of the stage of sleep, and that LSG Ss, as evidenced by several criteria, were more cerebrally aroused during NREM sleep than DSG Ss.
THE CARDIAC‐SOMATIC RELATIONSHIP: SOME REFORMULATIONS
Authors: Obrist Paul A. , Webb Roger A. , Sutterer James R. , Howard James L.
Published: February 2007

The purpose of this paper is to propose a scheme as to how the activities of the heart might be viewed in psychophysiological endeavors and theory. It is proposed that a necessary starting point is the metabolically relevant relationship between cardiac and somatic processes. This relationship is relevant to both an understanding of basic behavioral processes as well as psychopathological states of cardiac functioning. For these purposes, a strategy is outlined which, among other things, involves the evaluation of the influence of the cardiac innervations. Here it is proposed that heart rate most unequivocally reflects vagal activity, while the contractile properties of the heart manifest most unequivocally sympathetic effects. The implications of these arguments are discussed with regard to current studies involving the operant modification of heart rate. It is suggested that the significance of current operant to both issues of learning theory and psychopathology of cardiac function is questionable.
THE EFFECTS OF AWARENESS AND SUCCESSIVE INHIBITION ON INTEROCEPTIVE AND EXTEROCEPTIVE CONDITIONING OF THE GALVANIC SKIN RESPONSE
Authors: Uno Tadao
Published: February 2007

The general conclusion from Soviet studies of interoceptive conditioning has been that interoceptive conditioning is unconscious, established at a slower rate, and is more resistant to extinction than exteroceptive conditioning. Forty‐eight paid volunteer subjects were classically conditioned to both interoceptive (0 and 50 degree C. water in an intubated balloon located between the bronchial and diaphragmatic constrictions of the esophagus) and exteroceptive CSs (256 and 512 Hz tones at 60 db). Significant interoceptive and exteroceptive conditioning of the GSR was obtained using responses occurring within the interstimulus or first interval (FIR) as well as the post‐UCS or second interval (SIR). FIR conditioning progressed at a slower rate to interoceptive than to exteroceptive stimulation whereas SIR conditioning was equally effective to both modes of stimulation. Unawareness of interoceptive stimulation or their reinforcement contingencies tended to eliminate FIR but not SIR conditioning. Although not statistically supported, successive inhibitory‐excitatory compounding of interoceptive and exteroceptive CSs indicated stronger response tendencies to the interoceptive CSs when equated to exteroceptive conditioning strength. These results demonstrate the complexity of GSR conditioning when CS modality, response types, and awareness of CS‐UCS contingencies are considered.
HEART RATE RESPONSES TO AUDITORY CLICKS IN NEONATES
Authors: Schachter Joseph , Williams Thomas A. , Khachaturian Zaven , Tobin Michael , Kruger Robert , Kerr Joyce
Published: February 2007

The neonatal heart rate (HR) response to brief stimuli has generally been reported to be a monophasic acceleration. In this study brief auditory clicks to 6 neonates elicited, to a significantly greater degree than in non‐stimulus conditions: 1) deceleration alone, 2) acceleration alone, and 3) a biphasic response consisting of an initial deceleration and a subsequent acceleration.

The data are not yet available which would permit selection among the orienting reflex (OR), defense reflex, startle reflex, and Moro reflex models of these HR responses. With regard to peripheral mechanism, the early decelerative response was probably mediated by increased vagal inhibitory tone. The later accelerative response may have been mediated by one or more of the following mechanisms: decreased vagal inhibitory tone, activation of vagal accelerator fibers, and/or activation of sympathetic accelerator fibers.
DESENSITIZATION OF PHOBIAS: SOME PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL PROPOSITIONS
Authors: Van Egeren Lawrence F. , Feather Ben W. , Hein Peter L.
Published: February 2007

This study tested twelve hypotheses derived from psychophysiological theory underlying the systematic desensitization method of reducing phobic anxiety. Subjects with phobias imagined threatening scenes and neutral scenes under relaxed or non‐relaxed conditions while cardiac, respiratory, digital vasomotor, and skin conductance activity was recorded. Seven hypotheses were confirmed for one or more response measures. The results indicated that (a) imagining threatening scenes produces autonomic arousal in direct proportion to degree of subjective threat associated with the scenes, (b) autonomic reactions do not extinguish and countercondition faster to weak stimuli than to strong stimuli, and (c) muscle relaxation has a demonstrable but limited effect on counteracting autonomic fear reactions. Desensitization theory was partially supported.
SOME EXPERIMENTS CONCERNING THE EFFECTS OF SLEEP ON MEMORY
Authors: Goodenough Donald R. , Sapan Jerry , Cohen Harvey , Portnoff Gregory , Shapiro Arthur
Published: February 2007

A series of studies was conducted in an attempt to explore the effect of sleep on consolidation of memory traces. In each study, Ss were shown words shortly after each of several awakenings during the night. After the words were shown, the Ss were either permitted to return to sleep immediately (S treatment) or were kept awake for 5 min working on a psychomotor task (A treatment). Memory for the words was tested the following morning.

Under the (S) treatment condition, retention was positively related to the time taken to return to sleep after the word was shown. It was possible to replicate previous findings that retention is better in the (A) than in the (S) treatment. However, this treatment effect was found only if the psychomotor task was conducted under testlike conditions and only if the Ss pronounced the words during the stimulus presentation. If the task was presented to the S as a game, or if pronunciation was delayed until after the presentation ended, merely keeping the S awake in the (A) treatment did not improve retention. The phenomena observed do not appear to be easily interpreted as an effect of sleep on memory.
Hypnotic Control of Peripheral Skin Temperature: A Case Report
Authors: Maslach Christina , Marshall Gary , Zimbardo Philip G.
Published: February 2007

In an exploratory study on the specificity of autonomic control, subjects attempted to simultaneously change the skin temperature of their two hands in opposite directions. Subjects who were trained in hypnosis were successful in achieving this bilateral difference, while waking control subjects were not. These findings demonstrate the powerful influence that cognitive processes can exert on the autonomic nervous system and also suggest the possibility of more effective therapeutic control of psychosomatic problems.
Relationship Between Kinesthetic Aftereffects and “Strength of the Nervous System”
Authors: Sales Stephen M. , Throop Warren F.
Published: February 2007

Investigators have traditionally assumed that the kinesthetic aftereffects (KAE) procedure measures individuals’tendencies either to augment or to reduce the impact of incoming stimulation. Strikingly, this putative difference between individuals is one of the bases of Pavlov's typology: Pavlov maintained that individuals with “strong” nervous systems resist incoming stimuli, while individuals with “weak”nervous systems are particularly sensitive to stimuli. The present study supports the usual interpretation of the KAE task by indicating significant relationships between it and three measures of “strength of the nervous system.”The present data also have a practical implication: Since the KAE procedure has recently undergone strong methodological attacks, these results suggest that an investigator interested in the construct in question (tendencies to augment or reduce stimuli) can employ the measures of strength rather than the KAE method.
Change in Stimulus Conditions and the Orienting Response
Authors: O'Gorman J. G.
Published: February 2007

A review of studies of the orienting response (OR) to variation in the properties of a stimulus following habituation indicates that not all human Ss respond with an OR to changes of which they are aware and that the only conditions which have been found consistently to elicit the OR are an increase in the intensity of the stimulus and change in the modality of its presentation. These findings pose problems for the theory of the OR advanced by Sokolov (1960) which makes no allowance for a failure to respond to a detectable change in stimulation and which relies for support on evidence that the OR is not elicited solely as a consequence of the activating effects of stimulation. To clarify some of these problems it is suggested that future work should investigate the effect of complete omission of the stimulus on the OR and the contribution of individual differences in physiological responsiveness and perceived significance of a change to elicitation of the OR.
Psychophysiological Baselines as a Function of Race and Ethnic Origin
Authors: Lieblich Israel , Kugelmass Sol , Ben‐Shakhar Gershon
Published: February 2007

Basic skin conductance and pulse rate measurements were obtained from groups differing in race and ethnic origin in Israel. The results suggest higher skin conductance in Caucasians than in Negroes, and in Bedouins than in non‐Bedouins. There is some suggestion of an interaction between race and ethnic origin in relation to skin conductance. Both Caucasian and Negroid Bedouin tend to have lower pulse rates than the Jewish sample.
Relationship of Rapid Eye Movement Density to the Prior Accumulation of Sleep and Wakefulness
Authors: Aserinsky Eugene
Published: February 2007

Ocular activity during the REM stage of sleep was studied for the purpose of determining what effect previous sleep and waking would have on the intensity of that activity. Eleven Ss slept to satiation during a 54‐hr session and then, after a day of waking, slept for another night. REM density (i.e., number of eye mvts per min of REM period) rose progressively during the first night and morning, and then remained at a high level for the remainder of the 54 hrs; the mean REM density for Night 2 and also for Night 3 was about double the REM density of Night 1. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the amount of prior sleep was positively correlated with REM density whereas the amount of waking was negatively correlated. Peak REM density occurred after a mean of 9.88 hrs of sleep. Thereafter, periods of waking alternated with periods of sleep while the REM density oscillated at its peak level. It was concluded that REM density reflects the output of a sleep‐waking negative feedback circuit.
Effects of Epidermal Hydration on Skin Potential Responses and Levels
Authors: Fowles Don C. , Rosenberry Robert
Published: February 2007

Hydration of the epidermis promotes swelling of the stratum corneum, mechanical blockages of the sweat gland pore in the epidermis, and subsequent inhibition of surface sweating. If sweating continues in combination with poral closure, the resultant increase in hydrostatic pressure in the sweat duct is likely to alter the permeability of the sweat gland membrane. The experiments reported here investigated the significance of these effects for negative and positive skin potential responses (SPRs), and for the prestimulus levels associated with these responses. Hydration was found to virtually eliminate positive SPRs and to greatly reduce the prestimulus levels. A similar, though somewhat less drastic, effect was found for negative SPRs and prestimulus level. The hydration produced by a standard electrolyte (0.5% KCl in an agar jelly medium) appears to show a curvilinear time course with a rapid initial phase followed by slowly increasing hydration throughout a 20‐min period. The results were attributed to poral closure and to increased conductance through the epidermal pathway and were discussed in connection with recently suggested models of the electrodermal effector system.
Effect of Visual Stimuli on Human Salivary Secretion
Authors: Birnbaum David , Steiner Jacob E. , Karmeli Fanny , Ilsar Michael
Published: February 2007

The effect of visual stimuli on salivary secretion was studied in 200 young, healthy volunteers. Saliva was collected without visual stimuli and during projection of control (abstract) and food colored pictures.

No significant difference in salivary flow was found between rest and food collections. However, a significantly lower rate was found during exposure to abstract pictures.
Heart Rate Changes in the Horse to Human Contact
Authors: Lynch James J. , Frederick Fregin G. , Mackie James B. , Monroe Russell R.
Published: February 2007

The effects of human social contact on the electrocardiogram (EKG) and general behavior of 2 horses were explored. Petting elicited a slowing of heart rate, while a person entering and exiting elicited transient, but often marked heart rate increases. In both horses transient periods of T wave inversion occurred in the EKG during human contact. In one of the horses the frequency of dropped heart beats increased dramatically during successive trials of human petting. In this horse a total of 29 dropped heart beats were observed of which 23 occurred while a person was with the horse, although this contact occupied only 15 percent of the total observation period.

These findings parallel previous observations made with dogs. Similar observations of changes in the heart rate and rhythm of patients in coronary care units and a shock‐trauma unit during social contact with other humans underscore the need to develop empirical analogues of these reactions. The horse appears to offer an ideal model for understanding the psychosocial, hemodynamic, and central nervous system mechanisms involved in these reactions.
The Application of Bode Analysis to Skin Impedance
Authors: Burton Charles E. , David Robert M. , Portnoy William M. , Akers Lex A.
Published: February 2007

A method is described for analyzing skin impedance data and applied to the determination of a steady‐state electrical model for intact human skin. An algorithm is presented for the analytical procedure, Bode analysis, and a sample impedance function is obtained. Bode plots are employed to synthesize a passive equivalent circuit from sample measurements of “black box” skin impedance magnitude and phase angle, and representative values for the circuit elements are presented.
Ear Lobe Photoplethysmography
Authors: Stern Robert M.
Published: February 2007

Evidence is provided showing that there is very little change in pulse volume in the ear lobe as a function of the usual types of psychological stimuli. On the one hand, this makes ear lobe plethysmography an excellent source of a signal to trigger a cardiotachometer for investigators interested in pulse rate who do not want to, or cannot, use EKG recording. On the other hand, this makes the ear lobe an inappropriate place from which to record vasomotor reactivity.
Physical, Physiological, and Psychological Factors That Affect Pain Reaction to Electric Shock
Authors: Tursky Bernard
Published: February 2007

This paper reviews a number of years of comprehensive research in the use of electric shock as a pain stimulus in the psychophysiology laboratory. The development of a standard stimulation technique is described. Studies involving the use of this procedure to investigate psychological, physiological, and clinical factors that affect the evaluation of pain are discussed. Cultural and behavioral influences on pain tolerance are investigated and physiological response measures tested. Possible clinical applications are studied, and special consideration is given to the psychophysical evaluation of the sensory and connotative components of the pain experience.
Heart Rate Perception and Heart Rate Control
Authors: McFarland Richard A.
Published: February 2007

Twenty‐one subjects look the Autonomic Perception Questionnaire (APQ) and later were given another test of ability to perceive heart activity. The second test involved subjects' tracking of their own heart rates (HR). They were then tested for ability to increase and decrease HR from their resting baseline levels. No significant relationships were found between HR control and APQ score. HR decrease success seemed to depend mainly on respiration differences between rest and decrease periods. The subjects who achieved high scores on the heart tracking test increased HR significantly better than did low scorers. This heart perception vs HR increase relationship did not depend upon respiration rate, respiration amplitude, or baseline HR differences between high and low scorers on the tracking test. A low correlation between APQ and tracking score seemed to indicate that the two perception tests measured different attributes of the subjects.
Relationship Between Essential Hypertension and Cognitive Functioning: Effects of Biofeedback
Authors: Goldman Herbert , Kleinman Kenneth M. , Snow Muriel Y. , Bidus Donald R. , Korol Bernard
Published: February 2007

Seven malt essential hypertensives underwent 9 weekly 2‐hr biofeedback training sessions in an attempt to produce decreases in blood pressure. Feedback, contingent Upon heart bent by heart beat decreases in systolic pressure, was provided by an automated blood pressure monitoring system. The subjects were administered the Category Test (a subtest of the HaLstead‐Reitan Neuropsychological test Battery) both before and after biofeedback training. As controls, 4 male hypertensives underwent 3 weekly sessions in which blood pressure was monitored without feedback being provided. Prior to training, a significant positive correlation was otained between systolic blood pressure and number of errors made on the Category Test, Biofeedback training produced significant decreases in systolic pressure within sessions and in diastolic pressure between sessions, in the control subjects, no significant changes in pressure were observed. For both systolic and diastolic pressures, significant correlations w‐ere obtained between magnitude of decrease during biofeedback training and improvement in Category Test scores subsequent to training.
A Comparison of Auditory and Visual Feedback in Biofeedback Assisted Muscular Relaxation Training
Authors: Alexander A. Barney , French Cheryl Anne , Goodman Naomi J.
Published: February 2007

This study compared the efficacy of auditory and visual feedback in electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback assisted relaxation training of the frontalis muscle.Twenty‐eight subjects, divided into 4 groups matched on baseline frontalis EMG levels and trait anxiety, received 7 training sessions each under one of the following conditions: (1) auditory feedback‐eyes closed; (2) auditory feedback‐eyes open; (3) visual feedback; or (4) no feedback‐eyes closed. The group who received auditory feedback with the eyes closed manifested significant lowering of EMG over session compared to no significant reduction in EMG for the other three groups. EMG changes failed to correlate significantly with changes in self reports of subjective relaxation derived from pre‐to‐post session state anxiety test data. The possibility that the ineffectiveness of visual feedback in this study may be specific to the frontalis muscle was discussed and the need for further research in several areas was stressed.
Sleep and Memory: Retention 8 and 24 Hours After Initial Learning
Authors: Benson K. , Feinberg I.
Published: February 2007

Retention of nonsense syllables was tested in two groups of Ss: those having initial learning in the morning and those having initial learning at night immediately before sleep. These groups were subdivided so that recall was tested either 8 or 24 hrs after initial learning. As Jenkins and Dallenbach first demonstrated, retention was superior after 8 hrs for Ss when learned at night compared to those who learned in the morning. Retention with night learning was equal after 24 hrs to that observed after 8 hrs. Surprisingly, retention scores after morning learning were superior after 24 hrs to those observed after 8 hrs. Some possible interpretations of this result are advanced.
The Cold Pressor Test and Autonomic Function: A Review and Integration
Authors: Lovallo William
Published: February 2007

The purpose of the present paper is to review the literature on the cold pressor test and to discuss the ways in which these investigations have pointed toward a model of homeostatic function. The research employing the cold pressor test includes studies of psychosomatic illness, factors influencing autonomic response in stress, the relationship between psychological disorder and autonomic responsivity, as well as studies of cortical influences on autonomic function, and the relationship between stress and task performance. From these studies, several parameters of a potential model of homoeostasis are selected and discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of autonomic balance and initial values in influencing autonomic response to stress.
Pupillometry: A Survey of Sources of Variation
Authors: Tryon Warren W.
Published: February 2007

The purpose of this article was to discuss sources of pupillary variation not mentioned by either Hess(1972). or Goldwater (1972) and suggest experimental procedures to control for the effects of these variables when they are not themselves the object of study.
A Vaginal Plethysmograph System
Authors: Sintchak George , Geer James H.
Published: February 2007

A vaginal plethysmograph system utilizing an indirectly (reflected) lighted photocell probe has been developed and used experimentally with excellent results. While the standard lamp and photocell plethysmograph using transmitted light is not unique, its application in measuring vaginal blood volume presented numerous instrumentation and mechanical problems not previously encountered. It is believed that this is the first system to reliably measure vaginal blood volume changes by indirect methods.
Digital Temperature Autoregulation and Associated Cardiovascular Changes
Authors: Surwit Richard S. , Shapiro David , Feld Joyce L.
Published: February 2007

Two studies were designed to explore the extent to which individuals can learn to control their digital skin temperature and how such learning might be associated with changes in cardiovascular functioning. In the first experiment, 8 male and 8 female subjects were assigned to two experimental conditions in which either increases or decreases in digital skin temperature were rewarded. Subjects were given 2 baseline days and either 5 or 9 days of training. Analysis of the temperature data indicated that the differences between conditions were due to changes primarily in the decrease direction. All changes were bilateral. Analysis of heart rate revealed a sex difference in the cardiac response to voluntary vasodilation. Data from two plethysmographic measures are also presented. In the second experiment, it was demonstrated that lowering the ambient temperature decreased the ability of 8 subjects to voluntarily vasodilate.
Evoked Potentials in Hyperkinetic and Normal Children Under Certainty and Uncertainty: A Placebo and Methylphenidate Study
Authors: Prichep Leslie S. , Sutton Samuel , Hakerem Gad
Published: February 2007

Differences between hyperkinetic children and normal children and the effects of methylphenidate on hyperkinetic children were investigated under conditions of differential attentional demands. Auditory average evoked potentials were recorded from vertex using a single/double click guessing paradigm under conditions of certainty and uncertainty.

Under conditions of certainty (low attention), in which the subject was told the identity of each stimulus in advance, few significant group differences were found. Under conditions of uncertainty (high attention), in which the subject was asked to guess which stimulus would be presented, large group differences were found. In response to the second click the P200 component was found to be smaller and the N250 component was larger in hyperkinetic children than in normal children. Treatment with methylphenidate “normalized” the evoked potentials of the hyperkinetic children making them more like those of normal children.

The findings are believed: 1) to reflect the deficit in attention observed behaviorally in hyperkinetic children, 2) to support a model of hypoarousal in hyperkinetic children, and 3) to reflect the behavioral “normalization” observed in hyperkinetic children treated with melhylphenidate.
Skin Potential and Vasomotor Responsiveness of Black and White Children
Authors: Janes Cynthia L. , Worland Julien , Stern John A.
Published: February 2007

A few instances or racial differences in physiological response systems are found in the literature, but investigation of this variable has been relatively rare. The present report deals with cardiovascular as well as endosomatic electrodermal activity in 64 black and 42 while, 6–11 yr old children. In a standard habituation paradigm black children were more responsive in the vaso‐motor measure while whites were more responsive in skin potential. Skin potential results are discussed in terms of electrodermal mechanisms. Race is seen as a variable appropriate and useful for the study of physiological response systems.