bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rational Expectations is not Generally Valid for Econometric Models: Evidence from Stock Market Data
Authors: Chow C. , Kwan Yum K.
Published: December 2004

In applying the rational expectations hypothesis to generate expectations in an econometric model it is assumed that (1) the model itself is capable of generating reasonable forecasts of all required expectations variables included in the model, and that (2) the economic agents whose behavior is being modeled act as if they form their psychological expectations as conditional mathematical expectations generated by the model. Both assumptions can be invalid, as demonstrated by the historical data on Hong Kong stock prices and by the successful application of the adaptive expectations hypothesis to explain panel data of prices of individual stocks and aggregate time series data on stock price indices of the United States and of Hong Kong.
Technology for Sale
Authors: Beladi Hamid , Jones Ronald W. , Marjit Sugata
Published: December 2004

Free trade in commodities typically leads to gains for all participating countries. These gains can be augmented by trade in productive factors if returns differ between countries. But such trade would not exhaust potential gains if technological knowledge, not embedded in productive factors, differs between countries. Using a Ricardian model this paper shows how a country which has an absolute advantage based on technology in both commodities in a two‐commodity world can gain by selling, giving, or even bribing the other country into using the advanced technology in the other country's export sector. If each country has an absolute advantage in the single commodity it produces, an exchange of technology for the other commodity can nonetheless lead to extra gains for both countries.
Die Evolution der bundesdeutschen Forschungs- und Technologiepolitik: Rückblick und Bestandsaufnahme
Authors: Fier Andreas , Harhoff Dietmar
Published: December 2004

We consider the development of German federal research and technology (R&T) policies since the 1960s and sketch the evolution of today's highly differentiated and complex set of policy instruments. Advances from economic theory and empirical results are reflected in this evolution, but have not necessarily been the driving force. In some instances, innovative policy instruments have been introduced in order to accommodate the state of the art in economic analysis; in other cases, such innovations have preceded a thorough analysis of the respective policy instruments. A major point of concern is the lack of comprehensive evaluation and cost-benefit analyses in R&T policies. In this regard, German policy practice lags behind well-established procedures in other countries.
Neuroendocrine and cardiovascular reactivity to stress in mid‐aged and older women: Long‐term temporal consistency of individual differences
Authors: Burleson Mary H. , Poehlmann Kirsten M. , Hawkley Louise C. , Ernst John M. , Berntson Gary G. , Malarkey William B. , Kiecolt‐Glaser Janice K. , Glaser Ronald , Cacioppo John T.
Published: December 2004

We report long‐term temporal consistency of stress‐related neuroendocrine and cardiovascular variables in mid‐aged and older women who performed mental math and speech stress tasks two times approximately 1 year apart. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, ACTH, cortisol, cardiac preejection period (PEP), respiratory sinus arrhythmia, heart rate (HR), blood pressure, and respiration rate were measured at baseline, after or during stressors, and 30 min posttask. Although there were exceptions, year‐to‐year Spearman coefficients showed mostly moderate to high consistency (rs≈.5–.8) for baseline, stressor, and posttask values. For reactivity, HR and PEP were most consistent (rs≈.65); consistency for other variables was moderate to low (rs≈.1–.4). Means of most variables changed from year to year. Results support the use of baseline, stressor, and posttask values in longitudinal studies.
Cerebral patterns of attentional habituation to emotional visual stimuli
Authors: Carretié Luis , Hinojosa José Antonio , Mercado Francisco
Published: December 2004

Attentional habituation in response to emotional stimuli, an aspect of the interaction between cognitive and emotional processes that has received scant attention, was investigated. Event‐related potentials were recorded using a 60‐electrode array from 25 participants who attended to 120 presentations of three different picture types: emotionally negative (S−), positive (S+), and neutral (S0). The affective content of the stimulation was assessed, through questionnaires, by the participants themselves. N1 showed different patterns of habituation as a function of the stimulation: amplitudes indicated that S− was more resistant to habituation than S0 and S+. This pattern, which reflects a greater capacity of S− to attract and maintain the participant's attention, is interpreted as a manifestation of the “negativity bias,” a phenomenon that reflects an evolution‐favored set of mechanisms that facilitate a rapid and intense response to aversive events.
Auditory selective attention in young and elderly adults: The selection of single versus conjoint features
Authors: Gaeta Helen , Friedman David , Ritter Walter
Published: December 2004

The effects of aging on the behavioral and neurophysiological correlates of auditory selective attention were investigated when selection was between either unidimensional or multidimensional stimuli. Attentional processes were studied by recording event‐related brain potentials (ERPs) from 16 young (M=22 years) and 16 elderly adults (M=74 years) while they detected target tones based on a single location cue or a conjunction of location and pitch cues. Performance declined from the single‐ to the conjoint‐cue task for both age groups but more so for the elderly. The ERP data showed that both age groups used a hierarchical processing strategy to perform the conjoint‐cue task, but processing of the pitch dimension took longer for the elderly than for the young. The ERP data also showed that the scalp distribution of a late aspect of the waveform was more restricted in both anterior and posterior directions for the elderly. This suggests that frontal‐lobe dependent attentional processes may be less efficacious with aging.
Multiple visual memory phenomena in a memory search task
Authors: Fabiani Monica , Ho Jonathan , Stinard Alex , Gratton Gabriele
Published: December 2004

This paper reports evidence of the existence of multiple and distinct visual memory processes in a memory search task in which a divided field stimulus presentation was used at study (Experiments 1–3) and either a foveal (Experiments 1 and 2) or a lateralized (Experiment 3) stimulus presentation was used at test. These memory processes can be distinguished on the basis of (1) whether or not they are hemispherically organized; and (2) the locus of their underlying brain activity, as evidenced by the scalp distribution of the event‐related brain potentials and by the localization of the event‐related optical signal that accompany them. These memory effects are discussed in the context of visual form memory.
Development of oculomotor functioning in preadolescence, adolescence, and adulthood
Authors: Katsanis Joanna , Iacono William G. , Harris Mark
Published: December 2004

We examined developmental differences in smooth pursuit eye tracking proficiency in a large sample of preadolescent, adolescent, and adult males. Smooth pursuit was quantified using general measures of oculomotor functioning and by examining the frequency and dynamic characteristics of specific saccadic events. Examination of age effects using general measures indicated that, by late adolescence, the smooth pursuit system reached adult levels of functioning. No significant differences were found between the adolescent and adult groups on most global measures. However, both groups had better eye tracking than the preadolescent group, suggesting that during preadolescence the oculomotor system is still developing and is not yet capable of optimal performance. Examination of the frequency and dynamic characteristics of the saccadic events yielded additional information regarding the nature of the smooth pursuit eye tracking differences of the three age groups.
Preparing the heart, eye, and brain: Foreperiod length effects in a nonaging paradigm
Authors: Jennings J. Richard , van der Molen Maurits W. , Steinhauer Stuart R.
Published: December 2004

Psychophysiological “preparatory” responses may or may not depend on a focused expectation of when a stimulus will occur. Changes in heart rate, pupillary diameter, and brain potentials were examined during trials in which foreperiod of a simple reaction time (RT) task was fixed or unpredictable. Trials were also included in which stimuli for the speeded motor reaction were triggered by psychophysiological changes occurring spontaneously in the foreperiod. Thirty‐two college‐aged volunteers equally divided by gender participated in the experiment. Reducing expectancy, by using nonaging foreperiods, eliminated transient prestimulus psychophysiological responses but failed to eliminate slow changes over the foreperiod—slowing of heart rate, dilation of the pupil, and cortical surface negativity. Triggering the reaction stimulus by physiological changes did not influence RT. Correlations between psychophysiological changes in the foreperiod and between these changes and RT were generally low. The results were consistent with a multiprocess view of preparation.
Relations between PET‐derived measures of thalamic glucose metabolism and EEG alpha power
Authors: Larson Christine L. , Davidson Richard J. , Abercrombie Heather C. , Ward Robert T. , Schaefer Stacey M. , Jackson Daren C. , Holden James E. , Perlman Scott B.
Published: December 2004

Electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha power has been demonstrated to be inversely related to mental activity and has subsequently been used as an indirect measure of brain activation. The thalamus has been proposed as an important site for modulation of rhythmic alpha activity. Studies in animals have suggested that cortical alpha rhythms are correlated with alpha rhythms in the thalamus. However, little empirical evidence exists for this relation in humans. In the current study, resting EEG and a fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan were measured during the same experimental session. Over a 30‐min period, average EEG alpha power across 28 electrodes from 27 participants was robustly inversely correlated with glucose metabolic activity in the thalamus. These data provide the first evidence for a relation between alpha EEG power and thalamic activity in humans.
Extreme prematurity in healthy 5‐year‐old children: A re‐analysis of sex effects on event‐related brain activity
Authors: Lavoie Marc E. , Robaey Philippe , Stauder Johannes E.A. , Glorieux Jacqueline , Lefebvre Francine
Published: December 2004

A male disadvantage has been reported in several outcome studies of children born preterm. Twenty‐two healthy premature children (10 girls, 12 boys) born between 25 and 28 weeks of gestation and 20 controls born full‐term (10 boys, 10 girls) were matched on socioeconomical status and age. Event‐related potentials (ERPs) were recorded by using 14 electrodes in a visual oddball task, with 75% frequent and 25% rare stimuli. This task elicited a larger P3 to the rare than to the frequent stimuli, with a prominent parietocentral localization. However, the amplitude was larger in full‐term boys than in full‐term girls, a difference that was not observed between preterm boys and preterm girls, especially to targets and on the central electrodes. In addition, the preterm group was characterized by a frontal slow wave larger in boys than in girls. In these prematures, the lack of the sex‐related difference may be accounted by differences in the strength of the neuronal generators in males, as they might have been affected by the high level of androgens by the fetal testis under the control of placental gonadotropes during the first two thirds of gestation.
Optimal EMG signal bandwidth and interelectrode distance for the recording of acoustic, electrocutaneous, and photic blink reflexes
Authors: van Boxtel A. , Boelhouwer A.J.W. , Bos A.R.
Published: December 2004

The bandwidth for the recording of the orbicularis oculi blink reflex electromyogram (EMG) response is optimal when low‐frequency artifacts, such as motion artifacts and cross‐talk from other muscles, are maximally suppressed, whereas true EMG signal power is maximally retained. The optimal bandwidth was investigated for acoustic, electrocutaneous, and photic blink reflexes. Reflexes were recorded with varying bandwidth and interelectrode distances of 12 and 36 mm. Power spectra of the EMG signals were calculated and compared with a theoretical spectrum of the uncontaminated EMG signal. For both electrode distances, the optimal bandwidth was on the average 28–500 Hz for acoustic and electrocutaneous blink reflexes and 12–500 Hz for photic blinks. Using photic stimuli, however, a high‐pass filter frequency larger than 12 Hz (probably at least 30 Hz) in combination with occlusion of the eye will be necessary to avoid influences of retinal potentials. Given the optimal bandwidth, a larger electrode spacing may be expected to moderately improve the detectability of small blinks in all stimulus conditions.
Effects of early and late nocturnal sleep on priming and spatial memory
Authors: Plihal Werner , Born Jan
Published: December 2004

A wordstem priming task (nondeclarative memory), and a mental spatial rotation task (declarative memory) were presented to subjects of an experimental “sleep” group (n= 11) and of a “wake” control group (n= 10). Repetition priming effects and recall of spatial memory were tested after 3‐hr retention intervals, which followed learning and were placed either in the early or in the late half of the night. Sleep group subjects slept during the retention intervals while subjects of the wake group stayed awake. As expected, early retention sleep was dominated by slow wave sleep (SWS), whereas rapid eye movement (REM) sleep prevailed during late retention sleep. After early retention sleep, recall of spatial memory was superior to that after late retention sleep (p < .01), and also to that after retention intervals of wakefulness (p < .05). In contrast, priming was more effective after late than early retention sleep (p < .05). It appears that early sleep dominated by SWS facilitates consolidation of declarative memory whereas late sleep dominated by REM sleep facilitates consolidation of nondeclarative memory.
Is the target‐to‐target interval a critical determinant of P3 amplitude?
Authors: Gonsalvez Craig J. , Gordon Evian , Grayson Sandra , Barry Robert J. , Lazzaro Illario , Bahramali Homayoun
Published: December 2004

The P3 amplitude is augmented by decrements in target‐probability, increments in the number of nontargets preceding the target, and extensions of the interstimulus interval (ISI). Each of these changes prolongs the target‐to‐target interval (TTI) and, consequently, results attributed to these factors might, at least partially, be accounted for by the TTI. Recent research also indicates that the P3s elicited by targets in one‐, two‐, and three‐stimuli tasks (in which the TTI remains invariant) are similar. However, the TTI has not been examined systematically in previous research. The present study had subjects listen to a randomized ISI (0.5, 1, 2, or 4 s) version of the auditory oddball task in which targets occurred after one, two, three, four, or five nontargets. Event‐related potentials were analyzed based on ISI, sequential structure, and TTI. The study examined sequence and ISI effects independent of TTI effects and demonstrated that extensions of ISI affected N1 but not P3 amplitude, extensions of TTI enhanced P3 amplitude independent of sequential structure, and sequential structure failed to influence P3 amplitude when TTI was controlled.
Cognitive and emotional modulation of the cardiac defense response in humans
Authors: Pérez María Nieves , Fernández María del Carmen , Vila Jaime , Turpin Graham
Published: December 2004

The cognitive and emotional modulation of the cardiac defense response was investigated in this study. One hundred forty‐four participants were exposed to three presentations of an intense auditory stimulus while performing one of four attentional tasks: a control task, an external perceptual tracking task, and two internal tasks presented at either easy or difficult memory loads. State anxiety was also manipulated by requiring each group to perform either with or without the threat of shock. Heart rate and vasomotor activity were recorded. Results indicated that only the externally directed tracking task led to potentiation of the cardiac response. No predicted effects for attentional demands were obtained and the anxiety manipulation did not appear to have an effect. Differences between measures were also observed, particularly with respect to response habituation. Unlike cardiac activity, vasomotor responses displayed resistance to habituation. The results are discussed in relation to contemporary accounts of defensive responding.
Masked fear words produce increased SCRs: An anomaly for Öhman's theory of pre‐attentive processing in anxiety
Authors: van den Hout M.A. , de Jong P. , Kindt M.
Published: December 2004

A. Öhman and J.J.F. Soares (1994) demonstrated that masked presentation of phobic pictures produces increased skin conductance responses (SCRs) in phobic subjects. A. Öhman (1993) explained this phenomenon in terms of a hypothetical “feature detector” that identifies physical characteristics of stimuli and activates the arousal system without involving significance evaluation or consciousness. By exposing spider phobics to spider words, general threat words, and neutral words instead of pictures, this explanation was tested. Words were presented both masked and unmasked while electrodermal activity was measured. Under unmasked conditions, SCRs were largest for spider words followed by general threat words, then neutral words. When masked, the difference between spider words and general threat words disappeared but SCRs remained significantly smaller for neutral words. It is concluded that activation of the arousal system by masked threat cues does not necessarily depend on their perceptual characteristics.
Attentional capacity, a probe ERP study: Differences between children with attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder and normal control children and effects of methylphenidate
Authors: Jonkman L.M. , Kemner C. , Verbaten M.N. , van Engeland H. , Camfferman G. , Buitelaar J.K. , Koelega H.S.
Published: December 2004

In the present study it was investigated whether the smaller P3s in attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children are caused by a shortage of capacity underlying P3 processes or whether they are due to a capacity allocation problem. Also, effects of methylphenidate on these processes were investigated. Performance and event‐related potentials (ERPs) of 14 ADHD and 14 control children were measured using an irrelevant‐probe technique. Three types of task irrelevant visual probes (standards, deviants, and novels) were presented against the background of two visual tasks that varied in task difficulty. The parietal P3 wave was measured in response to task stimuli and probes. ADHD subjects made significantly fewer correct detections than normal controls in both the easy and the hard tasks. Controls showed an enhanced P3 to task‐relevant stimuli in the hard task, whereas ADHD children did not. Probe (novel) P3 amplitudes decreased from the easy to the hard task to the same extent in both groups. Methylphenidate enhanced the percentage of correct responses and task P3 amplitudes in both the easy and the hard task but probe P3 amplitudes were not influenced by methylphenidate. It was concluded that ADHD children do not suffer from a shortage in attentional capacity; rather, the evidence is in favor of a problem with capacity allocation. Furthermore, methylphenidate had enhancing effects on performance and ERPs, but did not improve the capacity‐allocation deficit.
P300, N400, aerobic fitness, and maximal aerobic exercise
Authors: Magnié Marie‐Noële , Bermon Stéphane , Martin Florence , Madany‐Lounis Myriam , Suisse Georges , Muhammad Wrya , Dolisi Claude
Published: December 2004

Electrophysiological effects of aerobic fitness and maximal aerobic exercise were investigated by comparing P300 and N400 before and after a maximal cycling test. Event‐related potentials (ERPs) were obtained from 20 students divided into two matched groups defined by their aerobic fitness level (cyclists vs. sedentary subjects). The session of postexercise ERPs was performed immediately after body temperature and heart rate returned to preexercise values. At rest, no significant differences were observed in ERP parameters between cyclists and sedentary subjects. This finding argued against the hypothesis that ERP modifications may be directly assumed by aerobic fitness level. The postexercise session of ERPs showed a significant P300 amplitude increase and a significant P300 latency decrease in all subjects. Similarly, N400 effect increased significantly after the maximal exercise in all subjects. ERP changes were of the same magnitude in the two groups. The present study argues for a general arousing effect of maximal aerobic exercise, independently of the aerobic fitness level.
Electrophysiological estimates of the time course of semantic and phonological encoding during implicit picture naming
Authors: Schmitt Bernadette M. , Münte Thomas F. , Kutas Marta
Published: December 2004

Two different event‐related potential (ERP) components were used to investigate the temporal processing of semantic and phonological encoding during implicit picture naming. Participants were shown pictures and carried out a dual choice go/nogo decision based on semantic information (i.e., whether the picture was of an object or an animal) and phonological information (i.e., whether the picture's name starts with a vowel or a consonant). In addition to the already established lateralized readiness potential (LRP; related to response preparation), we introduce the N200 (presumably related to response inhibition) as a tool for measuring online language processing. Both, the LRP and the N200 data indicated that semantic processing began earlier than phonological processing. The data are discussed in the context of language production models. Therein, the LRP and N200 results, taken together, favor a serial or cascaded processing model of language production in contrast to a parallel processing account.
Decay time of the auditory sensory memory trace during wakefulness and REM sleep
Authors: Atienza Mercedes , Cantero José Luis , Gómez Carlos M.
Published: December 2004

In a repetitive auditory stimulus sequence, deviant infrequent tones typically elicit a component of auditory event‐related potentials termed mismatch negativity (MMN). The elicitation of MMN is assumed to reflect the existence of a memory trace of the standard stimulus that has a decay time of about 10 s and is strengthened by repetition of the standards. The main aim of the present study was to test the decay time of the sensory memory trace during rapid‐eye movement (REM) sleep vs. wakefulness, as indexed by the MMN. Subjects were presented 10 tone trains, separated by 3, 6, or 9 s of silence, during waking and REM sleep. Each train consisted of 9 standards of 1000 Hz and 1 deviant of 2000 Hz that occurred at position 1, 2, 4, or 6. The waking deviants elicited a frontocentral negativity with a scalp topography equivalent to the MMN component. During REM sleep, the negative component showed the same scalp distribution only for the 3‐s intertrain interval (ITI). In this brain state, the MMN amplitude was smaller and decreased with prolongation of the ITI. These results suggest a weaker sensory memory trace formation and a premature decay time of such a memory trace during REM sleep as compared with wakefulness.
Location selection in the visual domain
Authors: van der Lubbe Rob H.J. , Woestenburg Jaap C.
Published: December 2004

According to A.H.C. Van der Heijden (1992), attentional selection of visual stimuli can be considered as location selection. Depending on the type of task, location selection can be considered to be automatic (e.g., in case of abrupt onsets), directly controlled (e.g., in case of symbolic precues), or indirectly controlled (e.g., in case of visual search). In tasks with symbolic precues a contralateral enhancement of the P1 event‐related potential (ERP) component has been found, whereas in visual search tasks a contralateral enhancement of the N2 component has been found. We hypothesized that both lateralized effects reflect the influence of location selection, which differs only in its moment of activation. Linear arrays (a target among five distractors, presented at two eccentricities) requiring left or right responses, were preceded by cues indicating either the precise target location or the side of the target, or by bilateral cues that indicated all array positions. Array‐evoked ERPs, corrected for cue‐evoked and interactive effects, showed not only lateralized but also target location‐specific effects for both components, which supports the view that, depending on the type of task, either the P1 or the N2 component reflect the influence of location selection.
Pupillary responses and processing resources on the visual backward masking task
Authors: Verney Steven P. , Granholm Eric , Dionisio Daphne P.
Published: December 2004

Task‐evoked pupillary responses were recorded during a visual backward masking task as an index of resource allocation. Increased pupillary dilation indicates increased allocation of processing resources to the task. Consistent with numerous studies, detection accuracy increased with longer interstimulus intervals and approximated no‐mask accuracy in the 300‐ms condition. Pupillary dilation responses were significantly greater during task performance (cognitive load) than during a passive stimulus viewing condition (no‐load) and were significantly greater in the 300‐ms condition than the no‐mask condition. Consistent with models of early visual information processing, the results suggest that the mask demanded extra processing resources when it followed the target by more than 100 ms. Pupillography methods may be useful in evaluating the contribution and timing of resource‐demanding processes during early visual information processing.
Preattentive processing of spectral, temporal, and structural characteristics of acoustic regularities: A mismatch negativity study
Authors: Takegata Rika , Paavilainen Petri , Näätänen Risto , Winkler István
Published: December 2004

In the present study we investigated the relationship between detecting violations of structural regularities of tone sequences and detecting deviations from temporal regularities or repetitive spectral auditory stimulus features. Twelve subjects were presented with randomized sequences of two tones (differing both in frequency and intensity) delivered alternately to the left and right ears at a constant stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA). In separate blocks, occasional deviant stimuli broke one, two, or three of the following regularities: spatial alternation, the constancy of SOA, or the dominant frequency‐intensity conjunctions. Unlike the mismatch negativity (MMN) elicited by alternation‐plus‐SOA deviants, the MMN elicited by alternation‐plus‐conjunction deviants was approximately equal to the sum of the two corresponding single‐deviant MMNs. These results suggest that the preattentive change‐detection system processes infrequent violations of the structural regularities of sound sequences together with changes in temporal regularities, but separately from changes in repetitive spectral sound features. The MMN elicited by the triple‐deviant stimuli corroborated these conclusions.
A topographical study of ERP correlates of semantic and syntactic violations in the Japanese language using the multichannel EEG system
Authors: Nakagome Kazuyuki , Takazawa Satoru , Kanno Osamu , Hagiwara Hiroko , Nakajima Heizo , Itoh Kenji , Koshida Ichiro
Published: December 2004

Language processing was investigated using event‐related potentials obtained using a multichannel (58‐channel) EEG system, with regard to semantic dependency (i.e., selectional restriction between a verb and the arguments it takes; the SR type) and syntactic dependency between sentence‐final particles and interrogative phrases (the WH‐Q type) in Japanese. It was found that semantic violations elicited the conventional N400, which was distributed in the bilateral occipital and the right temporal regions, and that the syntactic violations elicited the P600 in a broad area, predominantly in the centroparietal regions. Scalp current density mappings suggested that the right temporal cortex plays a significant role in integrating pieces of contextual information, especially when it is difficult to integrate a word in the context of a sentence, and that the P600 was connected to the syntactic processes conceivably indexed by the left temporal current sink with a relatively early onset.
Preattentive extraction of abstract feature conjunctions from auditory stimulation as reflected by the mismatch negativity (MMN)
Authors: Paavilainen Petri , Simola Jaana , Jaramillo Maria , Näätänen Risto , Winkler István
Published: December 2004

Brain mechanisms extracting invariant information from varying auditory inputs were studied using the mismatch‐negativity (MMN) brain response. We wished to determine whether the preattentive sound‐analysis mechanisms, reflected by MMN, are capable of extracting invariant relationships based on abstract conjunctions between two sound features. The standard stimuli varied over a large range in frequency and intensity dimensions following the rule that the higher the frequency, the louder the intensity. The occasional deviant stimuli violated this frequency–intensity relationship and elicited an MMN. The results demonstrate that preattentive processing of auditory stimuli extends to unexpectedly complex relationships between the stimulus features.
Late positive ERP peaks observed in stimulus‐response compatibility tasks tested under speed‐accuracy instructions
Authors: Christensen Carol A. , Ivkovich Dragana , Drake Karl J.
Published: December 2004

Speed‐accuracy instructions were manipulated in two symbolic stimulus‐response compatibility tasks in an event‐related potential study with young adults. For both tasks, the stimuli were the words left and right written in upper and lower case. Three late positive peaks (early P3, P3b, and P4) were seen in one task (with compatibility type blocked) with an additional peak (P3c) in the task that required identifying two stimulus attributes (compatibility type signaled by case). In both tasks, stimulus‐response incompatibility and an emphasis on accuracy increased reaction time, made the P4 more prominent and increased its latency. With very rapid responding, P4 was not prominent because of overlap with the preceding peak. Functional characteristics of the peaks are discussed as well as potential sources of latency and amplitude measurement error when P3b is measured in a temporal window broad enough to include the P4.
Using the jackknife‐based scoring method for measuring LRP onset effects in factorial designs
Authors: Ulrich Rolf , Miller Jeff
Published: December 2004

Miller, Patterson, and Ulrich (1998) introduced a jackknife‐based method for measuring the differences between two conditions in the onset latencies of the lateralized readiness potential (LRP). The present paper generalizes such jackknife‐based methods to factorial experiments with any combination of within‐ and between subjects factors. Specifically, we introduce a subsample scoring method to assess potential main and interaction effects on LRP onsets within conventional yet slightly adjusted analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and post hoc comparison procedures.
Effect of positive and negative emotion on stimulus‐preceding negativity prior to feedback stimuli
Authors: Kotani Yasunori , Hiraku Shiho , Suda Kazuhiro , Aihara Yasutsugu
Published: December 2004

Stimulus‐preceding negativity (SPN) was recorded to investigate the effect of positive and negative emotion on the SPN preceding feedback stimuli. In the time‐estimation task in which an acoustic stimulus was presented 3 s after a voluntary movement, (1) the negative valence (aversive band noise and pure tone) and (2) the positive valence (reward and no‐reward) of feedback stimuli were manipulated. During noise conditions, participants received the band noise as a feedback stimulus except when their time estimations were accurate. They received a monetary reward for accurate time estimations under the reward conditions. The prefeedback SPN was larger under reward than no‐reward conditions. In addition, the prefeedback SPN in the noise condition was larger compared with the pure tone condition. Our results appear to suggest that emotional anticipation is important in eliciting the prefeedback SPN.
Differential conditioning to facial emotional expressions: Effects of hemispheric asymmetries and CS identification
Authors: Peper Martin , Karcher Stepfanie
Published: December 2004

Previous studies on aversive learning have suggested a right hemispheric advantage for eliciting autonomic reactions to a masked conditioned facial stimulus (CS) depicting anger. The present study investigated the effects of visual field (VF), stimulus awareness, and emotional valence of the CSs on indicators of conditioning (bilateral SCRs, HR) using a differential conditioning paradigm (N= 41). In Group 1, four different negatively valenced facial expressions (CS+) but not four positively valenced CS− were associated with an unconditioned stimulus (US, aversive vocalization, 97 dB, 3 s) during acquisition. Group 2 received a treatment reversal with positive CS+ associated with the US. In a repeated measures design, CSs were presented with or without awareness during extinction (two weeks interval, order counterbalanced). SOAs were adapted for each subject and condition prior to the experiment so that identification performance was approaching chance level. The results revealed that both negative and positive facial expressions could be aversively conditioned providing evidence for a generalization of learning in the valence dimension. During extinction, preattentive negative CS+ presented to the left VF showed a trend towards greater electrodermal and cardiac reactions. However, no such effect emerged under full awareness of the CSs. These results confirm and further specify the nature of hemispheric asymmetries in emotional associative learning.
Effects of rapid versus slow accumulation of eight hours of sleep loss
Authors: Drake Christopher L. , Roehrs Timothy A. , Burduvali Eleni , Bonahoom Alicia , Rosekind Mark , Roth Thomas
Published: December 2004

The present study assessed alertness, memory, and performance following three schedules of ∼8 hr of sleep loss (slow, intermediate, and rapid accumulation) in comparison to an 8‐hr time in bed (TIB) sleep schedule. Twelve healthy individuals aged 21–35 completed each of four conditions according to a Latin Square design: no sleep loss (8‐hr TIB for 4 nights; 2300–0700), slow (6‐hr TIB for 4 nights; 0100–0700), intermediate (4‐hr TIB for 2 nights; 0300–0700), and rapid (0‐hr TIB for 1 night) sleep loss. On each day, participants completed a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), a probed‐recall memory task, a psychomotor vigilance task, a divided attention task, and the Profile of Mood States. “Rapid” sleep loss produced significantly more impairment on tests of alertness, memory, and performance compared to the “slow” accumulation of a comparable amount of sleep loss. The impairing effects of sleep loss vary as a function of rate, suggesting the presence of a compensatory adaptive mechanism operating in conjunction with the accumulation of a sleep debt.
The n‐back as a dual‐task: P300 morphology under divided attention
Authors: Watter Scott , Geffen Gina M. , Geffen Laurie B.
Published: December 2004

The n‐back task was hypothesized to be a dual task, permitting the imposition of parametrically increasing attentional and working memory demands, while keeping constant the demands of an embedded matching subtask. Visual targets were presented for 200 ms every 2.2 s at pseudorandomly varying positions on a computer screen. Participants were required to remember the most recent 0, 1, 2, or 3 positions and responded with a choice button push to whether the current target position matched the position presented n items previously. P300 peak latency was constant across n‐back tasks, reflecting constant perceptual and cognitive demands of the matching subtask. P300 peak amplitude decreased with increasing memory load, reflecting reallocation of attention and processing capacity away from the matching subtask to working memory activity. These data support a dual‐task nature of the n‐back, which should be considered when employing this paradigm.
2000 SPR Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychophysiology
Authors: Davidson Richard J.
Published: December 2004

Presentation to John Cacioppo on the occasion of the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychophysiology, Saturday October 21, 2000, San Diego.
The effect of stimulus probability on P3 in the respiratory‐related evoked potential
Authors: Webster Kate E. , Adey Sarah A. , Colrain Ian M.
Published: December 2004

The present study investigated the effect of target stimulus probability on the P3 component of the respiratory‐related evoked potential (RREP). A single respiratory stimulus paradigm was employed where normal breaths served as standard stimuli and occluded breaths presented at various probability levels served as target stimuli. EEG was recorded from 29 channels in young adults in two conditions. In Condition 1, occlusions were presented at target probabilities of 0.5, 0.33, 0.25, 0.2, 0.1, and 0.05, that is, every 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 10th, and 20th breath. Order of target probability presentation varied randomly. Condition 2 used the same target probabilities, but held breathing rate constant by using a paced respiration task. Results indicated that P3 amplitude was significantly affected by stimulus probability, such that the component showed an inverse relationship with probability. This effect was similar between conditions. However, P3 amplitude reduced and latency increased when the secondary task of paced respiration was introduced. These data suggest that models developed to describe the effect of stimulus probability on the amplitude of visual and auditory P3 components are applicable to the respiratory somatosensory modality.
Effects of affective picture viewing and imagery on respiratory resistance in nonasthmatic individuals
Authors: Ritz Thomas , Alatupa Saija , Thöns Miriam , Dahme Bernhard
Published: December 2004

We studied the modulation of oscillatory resistance (Ros) by viewing and imagery of affective pictures. Thirty nonasthmatic participants viewed 36 affective slides precategorized as positive, neutral, and negative in valence. Each picture was presented for 15 s, followed by an imagery epoch of 15 s. Ros, facial EMGs, respiration, skin conductance response, heart period, and respiratory sinus arrhythmia were measured throughout the session, as well as viewing time and ratings of pleasure, arousal, and interest. Increases of Ros were observed for negative pictures, and little changes for positive or neutral pictures. Other physiological parameters did not mirror this response pattern, leaving no clear indication for a ventilatory or vagal origin of Ros changes. Overall differences between behavioral contexts of visual processing and imagery revealed evidence for a coupling of cardiac and respiratory responses, which included changes in Ros. The findings in Ros are discussed in the light of earlier discrepant findings on the affective modulation of airway resistance and cardiac activity.
Atypical autonomic regulation in perpetrators of violent domestic abuse
Authors: Umhau John C. , George David T. , Reed Shawn , Petrulis Sarah G. , Rawlings Robert , Porges Stephen W.
Published: December 2004

Perpetrators of domestic violence describe symptoms that are compatible with exaggerated autonomic arousal at the time of the domestic violence. This inappropriate arousal may be reflected in altered heart rate regulation. If heart rate is systematically regulated by vagal mechanisms, then increases in heart rate should correlate with decreases in cardiac vagal activity, as indexed by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). We hypothesized that perpetrators of domestic violence have an alteration in heart rate regulation. To test this hypothesis we compared the results of a postural shift performed on perpetrators, healthy volunteers, and nonviolent alcoholics. Results showed there were no significant differences in heart rate, RSA, or catecholamines. However, the significant inverse relationship between posture‐elicited changes in RSA and heart rate present in the healthy volunteers was not found in perpetrators. These differences in the covariation between heart rate and RSA may represent differences in the neural regulation of heart rate and may be related to difficulties in controlling autonomic state.
The impact of semantic memory organization and sentence context information on spoken language processing by younger and older adults: An ERP study
Authors: Federmeier Kara D. , McLennan Devon B. , de Ochoa Esmeralda , Kutas Marta
Published: December 2004

To examine changes in semantic memory organization and use during aging, we recorded event‐related potentials as younger and older adults listened to sentences ending with the expected word, an unexpected word from the same semantic category, or an unexpected word from a different category. Half of the contexts were highly constraining. In both groups, expected words elicited less negativity 300–500 ms (N400) than unexpected ones, and unexpected words elicited smaller N400s when these were categorically related. Whereas younger adults showed the greatest N400 reduction to unexpected but related words in high constraint contexts, older adults showed the opposite tendency. Thus, unlike younger adults, older adults as a group do not seem to be using context predictively. Older adults with higher verbal fluency and larger vocabularies, however, showed the younger response pattern, suggesting resource availability may offset certain age‐related changes.
Startle potentiation in aversive anticipation: Evidence for state but not trait effects
Authors: Nitschke Jack B. , Larson Christine L. , Smoller Marian J. , Navin Sarah D. , Pederson Adrian J.C. , Ruffalo Dante , Mackiewicz Kristen L. , Gray Shannon M. , Victor Elise , Davidson Richard J.
Published: December 2004

The present study was undertaken to determine whether aversiveness contributes to startle potentiation in anticipation of affective pictures above and beyond the effects of emotional arousal. Further, participants high in trait anxious apprehension, which is characterized by worry about the future, were expected to show especially pronounced anticipatory startle responses. Startle blink reflex was measured during warning stimuli that predicted the valence of ensuing aversive/unpleasant, pleasant, or neutral pictures. Startle magnitude was larger in anticipation of aversive than of pleasant pictures and smallest in anticipation of neutral pictures. Enhanced startle potentiation was not found in anxious apprehension subjects. These data suggest that the aversive nature of stimuli contribute to the potentiation of startle above and beyond the effects of emotional arousal, which may be a universal phenomenon not modulated by individual differences.
Psychophysiological correlates of narcissistic traits in women during active coping
Authors: Kelsey Robert M. , Ornduff Sidney R. , Reiff Sarah , Arthur Carlotta M.
Published: December 2004

Two dimensions of narcissism were related to psychophysiological responses to stress in 50 young women. Cardiovascular, electrodermal, task performance, and stress appraisal measures were recorded during rest, mental arithmetic, and a computerized Thematic Apperception Test (Murray, 1943). The Egocentricity and Alienation scales of the Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory (Bell, 1995) served as measures of overt/inflated and covert/deflated narcissism. Egocentricity correlated consistently with heightened preejection period reactivity, whereas Alienation correlated consistently with diminished electrodermal reactivity (all p < .05). Multivariate analyses supported specific relationships between Egocentricity and preejection period hyperreactivity, and between Alienation and electrodermal hyporeactivity. These results have implications for narcissism, cardiovascular disease risk, and a variety of psychiatric disorders.
Guidelines for mechanical lung function measurements in psychophysiology
Authors: Ritz Thomas , Dahme Bernhard , Dubois Arthur B. , Folgering Hans , Fritz Gregory K. , Harver Andrew , Kotses Harry , Lehrer Paul M. , Ring Christopher , Steptoe Andrew , van de Woestijne Karel P.
Published: December 2004

Studies in psychophysiology and behavioral medicine have uncovered associations among psychological processes, behavior, and lung function. However, methodological issues specific to the measurement of mechanical lung function have rarely been discussed. This report presents an overview of the physiology, techniques, and experimental methods of mechanical lung function measurements relevant to this research context. Techniques to measure lung volumes, airflow, airway resistance, respiratory resistance, and airflow perception are introduced and discussed. Confounding factors such as ventilation, medication, environmental factors, physical activity, and instructional and experimenter effects are outlined, and issues specific to children and clinical groups are discussed. Recommendations are presented to increase the degree of standardization in the research application and publication of mechanical lung function measurements in psychophysiology.
Influence of fitness and gender on blood pressure responses during active or passive stress
Authors: Dishman Rod K. , Jackson Erica M. , Nakamura Yoshio
Published: December 2004

We examined hemodynamic and autonomic components of blood pressure responses during active and passive stressor tasks in a sample of young, normotensive men and women who were physically active but differed on fitness (i.e., [V below dot]O2peak). During the hand cold pressor, increases in systolic blood pressure were inversely related to fitness among women but not men. Regardless of gender, fitter participants had a greater increase in cardiac pace during mental arithmetic, coherent with a decreased cardiac‐vagal component of heart rate variability, and a greater compensatory reduction in stroke volume. Fitness was otherwise unrelated to changes in cardiac output and vascular resistance during the stressor tasks. Our findings suggest that cardiorespiratory fitness augments the cardiac‐vagal withdrawal that is characteristic of mental arithmetic. The blunted systolic blood pressure response to the hand cold pressor among fitter women suggests that cardiorespiratory fitness should be considered as a covariate in studies that examine the hand cold pressor as a predictor of future hypertension among women.