bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INFLUENCE OF BLOOD PRESSURE ON PATTERNS OF VOLUNTARY BEHAVIOR
Authors: Fornyth Ralph P.
Published: February 2007

The relation between cardiac activity and motor activity wan investigated in a monkey with normal blood pressure working on a 10‐sec Sidman avoidance schedule. The monkey's lever‐pressing; activity and his blood pressure, measured from an arterial catheter, were simultaneously recorded on a dynograph. A total of 2536 lever presses were recorded in there test periods. and each response was related to the phase of the blood pressure wave m which it occurred. A Spearman rank correlation coefficient of 0.63 was found between the time of onset of the response and the height of the pressure wave when the data were grouped into 10, periods and adjusted for a 110‐meser delay. These results were interpreted as additional support for the idea that the autonomic afferent fibers maintaining homeostatic circulatory adjustment can also modulate midbrain reticular activity and thus influence the expression of voluntary behavior.
AN INSTRUMENT FOR PRODUCING ACCUMULATIVE TRACINGS ON POLYGRAPH RECORDERS
Authors: Thorne P. R.
Published: February 2007

A compact, transistorized version of the electromechanical cumulative recorder is described. Advantages include freedom from electrical and acoustical noise, variable step height, and the capability of stepping in either an upward or downward direction. Circuitry is simple, reliable and low in cost.
ALPHA AMPLITUDE AND AROUSAL: A REPLY TO SURWILLO
Authors: Stennett R. G.
Published: February 2007

Arguments are presented in answer to Surwillo's criticism of a statistical procedure used by Stennett (1957) to test the hypothesis of an inverted‐U relationship between alpha amplitude and palmar conductance. Surwillo (1965), despite unwise methodology, produced data consistent with the hypothesis that alpha amplitude bears an inverted‐U relationship to heart rate.

In a recent paper, Surwillo claimed that Stennett (1957), in demonstrating an inverted‐U relationship between alpha amplitude and palmar conductance, “misused X2 by violating the requirement that entries from which x2 values are computed must be independent,” and suggested further that Stennett's “positive finding is really an artifact of the method” (Surwillo, 1965, p. 250). In attempting to support this assertion, Surwillo states that “The method is clearly invalid, because data … were combined according to a rule which assumes that an inverted‐U function relates the variables” (Surwillo, 1965, p. 251). He then refers to hypothetical data which are obviously arranged to “prove” his point (Surwillo, 1965, Fig. 2).

The purposes of this paper are: (1) to clarify the rationale of the statistical technique involved; (2) to illustrate the fallacy of the conclusions to which Surwillo is drawn by his hypothetical data; and (3) to point out certain methodological problems and pitfalls involved in studies along “the arousal continuiun.”
HEART RATE ELUCTUATIONS AND FIXED FOREPERIOD REACTION TIME
Authors: Meyers William J.
Published: February 2007

Visual reaction times were recorded in a fixed foreperiod situation, to study the relation between sensorimotor performance and heart rate measures. With 42 male college students as Ss, both resting and performance levels of heart rate and heart rate fluctuations were obtained. Reaction time data were collected from blocks of trials at given foreperiods which ranged from 1 to 9 sec. Three groups of subjects, formed on the basis of high, medium, and low levels of peak‐trough differences in heart rate during the reaction‐time trials, showed different foreperiod functions. The hypothesis that fluctuations in heart rate are related to fixed foreperiod reaction time performance was supported.
ORIENTING AND DEFENSIVE RESPONSES TO ELECTRIC SHOCK
Authors: Zimny George H. , Kienstra Randy A.
Published: February 2007

The major purpose of this study was to test 10 hypotheses dealing with orienting responses and defensive responses that were derived from Sokolov's theory. Four presentations of a 0.5‐sec tone were occasionally interpolated among a series of 40 presentations of a 0.5‐sec electric shock administered to one group of 14 human subjects and among 40 presentations of simultaneous 0.5‐sec shock and 0.5‐sec tone administered to another group of 14 subjects. Skin resistance was recorded and analyses were carried out on amplitude and base level. With amplitude, seven hypotheses were completely and two were partially confirmed, thereby providing strong support for Sokolov's theory. The findings were discussed in relation to various problems involved in the classical conditioning of physiological processes.
HEART RATE DURING CONDITIONING IN DOGS: RELATIONSHIP TO SOMATIC‐MOTOR ACTIVITY
Authors: Obrist Paul A. , Webb Roger A.
Published: February 2007

During classical conditioning in dogs, heart rate and two measures of somatic‐motor activity, i.e., gross movements and respiratory amplitude, were found to he interrelated in anticipation of shock, food, and food paired with shock, i.e., experimental conflict. Most commonly the anticipatory response was a cardiac acceleration which was proportional to increased somatic‐motor activity with both types of response having a similar latency and rate of change in the interstimulus interval. In the absence of anticipatory somatic responses, heart rate remained stable, decelerated, or accelerated minimally. There was some evidence to indicate that the cardiac response associated with somatic activity was exaggerated by the presence of stress. These data suggest that the influence processes like emotion have on heart rate may be mediated in part through the effect emotion has on processes controlling somatic‐motor activity. In this context, both response processes might be viewed as different aspects of the same somatic‐visceral response. An understanding of such somatic‐cardiac coupling would seem necessary for studies of the psychopathology of cardiovascular function and possibly of other behavioral processes.
THE EVOKED HEART RATE RESPONSE: THE INFLUENCE OF AUDITORY STIMULUS REPETITION, PATTERN REVERSAL, AND AUTONOMIC AROUSAL LEVEL
Authors: Meyers William J. , Gullickson Gary R.
Published: February 2007

A brief two‐component auditory stimulus was repeatedly presented at 10‐sec intervals to 48 college students. Analysis of the pattern of sec‐by‐sec changes in heart rate (HR) revealed that the only reliable response to the first stimulus was HR deceleration. During the remainder of the first 20 trials, an acceleration was the predominant response in the HR curves. When the stimulus pattern was reversed on trial 21 to study “dishabituation,” only a HR deceleration was again observed. A significant habituation effect appeared across trials employing an index based upon the difference between peak and trough values. Further analysis revealed that the two response components reflected in the peak and trough values of this index showed different rates of response decrement. The acceleratory component showed a rapid initial decrement and remained stable on subsequent trials, whereas the deceleratory component diminished more gradually. Level of autonomic arousal, as measured by skin conductance level, was unrelated to HR habituation.
FURTHER PHYSIOLOGICAL CORRELATES OFETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN RESPONSES TO SHOCK
Authors: Tursky Bernard , Sternbach Richard A.
Published: February 2007

The effects of subjects’ sets on autonomic functioning had previously been dem‐onstrated when the sets were induced by explicit experimental procedure. It washypothesized that implicit (non‐verbalized) sets should likewise have physiologicalcorrelates. The hypothesis was tested by exposing subjects of four different ethnicgroups, whose attitudes toward pain and pain expression are different, to an experi‐mental procedure involving electric shock. Differences were found in resting meanheart rate and palmar skin resistance and face temperature levels, in palmar skinpotential responses to repetitive shocks, and in correlations between thresholdsand heart rate, skin resistance and skin potential levels. These results closelyparallel the attitudinal differences, and together with previously reported findingsof differences in upper thresholds and adaptation of the diphasic skin potential, strongly confirm the hypothesis that subjects’ implicit sets infiuence their patternsof autonomic responses.
PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGIC ASPECTS OF PAROTID SALIVATION IN MAN: II. EFFECTS OF VARYING INTERSTIMULUS INTERVALS ON DELAYED SALIVARY CONDITIONING
Authors: Brown Clinton C. , Katz Ruth A.
Published: February 2007

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of varying the interval between the onsets of CS and US on human salivary conditioning. Three interstimulus intervals (ISI's) were employed–5 sec, 3 sec, and 0.25 sec with an auditory CS of 5 sec duration and 1 ml (bilaterally) of flavored acid as US. Eighteen subjects were equally divided into the three ISI groups. Both positive (600cps) and negative (200cps) tones were given and a 50% reinforcement schedule was followed in the last quarter of the test. The duration of the salivary unconditional response was significantly increased for the shortest (0.25 sec) ISI group for the total test period. In the last quarter of the test, the shortest ISI group showed significantly increased frequency of response to unreinforced CS presentations. The authors suggest that the change in shape of the UR was a function of the conditioning process and the increased responding to unreinforced CS's by the briefest ISI group demonstrated the importance of the temporal spacing within the conditioning paradigm.
NORMALITY OF DISTRIBUTION OF RESTING PALMAR SKIN POTENTIAL
Authors: O'Connell Donald N. , Tursky Bernard , Evans Frederick J.
Published: February 2007

Resting skin potential level scores from three samples, two of undergraduates and one of housewives, were analyzed for normality of distribution. The first two samples showed no significant departure from normality. The third showed some significant positive skewness. In general, it was concluded that resting level scores were sufficiently normal not to require transformation for statistical analyses.
FACTS AND ARTIFACTS IN USING ANALYSIS OF COVARIANCE TO “UNDO” THE LAW OF INITIAL VALUES
Authors: Benjamin Lorna S.
Published: February 2007

The writer has proposed (Benjamin, 1963) that the criterion for a score linearly independent of initial level be that the score have no correlation with initial level. The criterion makes analysis of covariance (anacova) the method of choice for undoing LIV. This paper reviews miscellaneous artifacts said to be associated with anacova and finds that none of them precludes this procedure.

Some presumed artifacts considered are: that rxd is “… so complexly constituted that it does not allow simple interpretation” (Lacey and Lacey, 1962); that anacova can cause a loss of valuable information (Heath and Oken, 1965); that anacova introduces an artifactual association with final level (Heath and Oken, 1965); that LIV as measured by anacova techniques can be an artifact of whether resistance or conductance happens to be chosen (Hord, Johnson, and Lubin, 1964); that the use of anacova in (clinically important) instances where groups are defined by a fixed variable is sure to vitally violate its assumptions (Lubin, 1965).
THE SHIELDING OF ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC LABORATORIES
Authors: Thompson Noel P. , Yarbrough Raymond B.
Published: February 2007

This article was written to reduce some of the confusion that exists with regard to the shielding of medical electronic laboratories, especially those dealing with very small signals. A specific design approach is given. Briefly, this involves the use of iron as the shielding material, a proper ground, isolation transformers, and D.C. illumination. The recommendations are based on the most effective and economic approach.
THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ALPHA RHYTHM PROPAGATION TIME AND LEVEL OE AROUSAL
Authors: Shaw J. C. , McLachlan K. R.
Published: February 2007

Alpha waves in the EEG occur with a time delay in the anteroposterior direction. The hypothesis that this time delay is associated with level of arousal was tested. Alpha time delay was determined from covariance functions and level of arousal from palmar skin conductance levels. The results support the hypothesis.
THE CARDIAC COMPONENT OE THE ORIENTING RESPONSE
Authors: Germana Joseph , Klein Stephen B.
Published: February 2007

A beat‐by‐beat analysis of the human heart rate (HR) response to repeated presentation of 3 intensities of auditory stimulation (50, 70, and 90 db) was undertaken to test the hypothesis that the HR component of the orienting response (OR) is deceleration. Over‐all level of poststimulus acceleration and a late acceleratory component of a multi‐phasic response pattern best met the criteria of an OR, suggesting an alternative hypothesis.
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING OF THE PERIPHERAL VASOMOTOR ORIENTING RESPONSE
Authors: Gale Elliot N. , Stern John A.
Published: February 2007

The present study demonstrates that the peripheral vasomotor response is conditionable. The paradigm used involved a delayed, differential conditioning procedure and utilized both a conditioning and sensitization control group. The results demonstrate that the vasomotor orienting response can be differentially conditioned.
TASK COMPLEXITY, ELECTRODERMAL ACTIVITY AND REACTION TIME
Authors: Kleinman Kenneth M. , Stern John A.
Published: February 2007

The influence of task complexity upon the relationship between electrodermal activity and reaction time was studied. Subjects performed either a simple or complex fixed foreperiod reaction time task. Various measures of skin resistance were taken before and during performance of the task. Only on the more complex task were electrodermal measures related to reaction time. However, the sign of the relationship was opposite to that found in other investigations; subjects with many spontaneous fluctuations and orienting responses reacted slowly. The results were interpreted in terms of the influence of both task complexity and foreperiod characteristics.
THE EFFECT OF PRESTIMULUS VARIABILITY UPON PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIVITY SCORES
Authors: Malmstrom Edward J.
Published: February 2007

In an attempt to improve the scoring of physiological responses, in terms of higher inter‐correlations of physiological variables and correlations with self‐report measures of mood change, three new scores were compared with Autonomic Lability Scores. The first score was produced by changing the sampling of physiological records to minimize spontaneous fluctuations. This increased the physiological‐mood correlations. The second and third scores provided, additionally, corrections for individual prestimulus variability. Such corrections, done by covariance adjustment, tended to increase the physiological‐mood correlations further. When done by a division procedure, no improvements were observed. None of the three scoring methods affected substantially the inter‐correlations of physiological variables. Heart rate, skin conductance, and forehead muscle tension were measured during two stimuli: a noxious movie and a mild noise.
CONDITIONED HEART RATE DECELERATION UNDER DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF RESPIRATORY CONTROL
Authors: Riege Walter H. , Peacock L. J.
Published: February 2007

Both accelerative and decelerative cardiac responses have been observed in studies on human heart rate conditioning. An interpretation of the contradictory responses regarded as conditioned seems to remain equivocal. Experiments generally have used shock or loud sound as the US, so that effects of respiratory and pressor reflexes on heart rate appeared to be implicated in the conditioning process.

In the present experiment, the period following a simple non‐aversive signal‐detection task established a heart rate deceleration as the UR. During this period, subjects of three experimental groups controlled part of their respiratory cycle for 20 seconds. Respiratory control was either sustained inhalation, sustained exhalation or maintained shallow resting cycle, while control subjects exercised no respiratory restraint. The non‐aversive stimulation excluded excessive heart rate acceleration and permitted a CS to coincide with onset of relaxation in the postdecision period. Only in experimental subjects was a significant conditional deceleration of heart rate found. Conditional deceleration occurred in addition to a gradual drop in heart rate level during the experiment. When respiratory activity was not controlled, a biphasic response of heart rate was observed.
HABITUATION OF THE ORIENTING RESPONSE TO MULTIPLE STIMULUS SEQUENCES
Authors: Lovibond S. H.
Published: February 2007

The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that rate of habituation of the orienting response (OR) to multiple stimulus sequences is a negative function of the uncertainty (H) in the stimulus series. Seven groups of 30 Ss received 10 presentations of a 10 sec light stimulus (S1) followed immediately by a 1 sec 70 db auditory stimulus (S2) on 0, 10, 20, 50, 80, 90 or 100 percent of trials. The response measure was change of skin conductance to S1. Mean conductance change scores of the various groups were closely related to the degree of uncertainty (H) in the stimulus series. The results were interpreted as offering support for Sokolov's OR theory, and the view that, in human information processing, information concerning stimulus probabilities is integrated continuously to form the basis of predictive extrapolation.
MOTOR‐UNIT TRAINING AND INFLUENCE OF MANUAL SKILL
Authors: Scully Hugh E. , Basmajian John V.
Published: February 2007

Employing the recently devised technique of training conscious control over individual motor units of skeletal muscles, the influence of prior manual skills was tested in 29 young adults. Twenty‐five subjects succeeded with a median training‐time of 20 minutes. The manually skilled took longer to train single motor units than the less skilled (at the .05 level of significance). The initial period of time to isolate a single motor unit is shorter than to train it to react on command. The technique offers a novel and useful method of testing the acquisition of a fundamental motor skill and factors which influence it. Further exploration is justified because trained motor units are now being harnessed to drive myoelectrical man–machine cybernetic devices.
EFFECT OF MENTAL ARITHMETIC ON GASTRIC SECRETION
Authors: Badgley Laurence E. , Spiro Howard M. , Senay Edward C.
Published: February 2007

Gastric secretions of 12 fasting male subjects between the ages 20 and 27 years were collected by continuous manual syringe aspiration for two hours. In seven trials, the subjects rested for one hour and did mental arithmetic during the second hour. In seven other trials, the arithmetic hour preceded the rest hour. The mean milliequivalents of HCl secreted during the 14 arithmetic hours was significantly different from the mean milliequivalents secreted during the 14 rest hours (one tailed t= 2.28; p < .05). The volume of juice secreted during the arithmetic hour also decreased (one tailed t= 2.35; p < .05).
EFFECTS OF WATER DEPRIVATION UPON HEART RATE AND RUNNING SPEED OF THE HITE RAT IN A STRAIGHT ALLEY
Authors: Granger L. , Ducharme R. , Bélanger D.
Published: February 2007

Eighteen rats were trained to run in a straight alley under 24 hours of water deprivation. They were then submitted to six daily trials under successive and independent water deprivation conditions of 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hours. The fact that the HR of these animals increased up to 508 BPM with the length of deprivation, and that there was no drop in the performance for the 60 and 72 hours deprivation condition, would suggest that the relationship between performance and activation is sometimes monotonic and sometimes curvilinear, depending upon the nature of the task investigated.
UNILATERAL BRAIN DAMAGE AND BILATERAL SKIN CONDUCTANCE LEVELS IN HUMANS
Authors: Holloway Frank A. , Parsons Oscar A.
Published: February 2007

Left and right, palmar and dorsal skin conductance levels (SCLs) were obtained from hospital controls, left hemisphere lesion Ss, right hemisphere lesion Ss, and diffuse or bilateral lesion Ss during several experimental conditions involving rest, passive auditory stimulation, motor reactions, and simple “perception”. The unilateral lesion groups generally displayed significantly higher palmar SCLs on the side contralateral to their lesion. Such “laterality” was not demonstrated in dorsal recordings or in the hospital controls or diffuse lesion group. These unilateral lesion groups had higher palmar SCLs during passive stimulation than during rest, motor, or perception phases. Results were discussed in terms of possible neural mechanisms underlying the phenomena.
GENERALIZATION OF INHIBITION IN THE ORIENTING RESPONSE
Authors: Geer James H.
Published: February 2007

The effects of presenting different numbers of standard stimuli (SS) upon the orienting responses (ORs) to test stimuli (TS) that vary in SS‐TS similarity were examined. Sokolov's theory of the OR was interpreted as predicting an interaction between the number of SS presentations and SS‐TS differences. The prediction was not supported. The data did indicate that (1) prior presentation of SS reduced the ORs to subsequently presented TS and (2) within sequences of SS and TS, OR habituation occurred. SS–TS differences were not significant. The results suggested that theories that assume precise generalization of habituation reconsider that assumption.
GENERALIZATION OF GSR HABITUATION TO MILD INTRAMODAL STIMULI
Authors: Houck Robert L. , Mefferd Roy B.
Published: February 2007

Subjects habituated to a mild stimulus failed to have GSRs upon the intrusion of a “novel” mild intramodal stimulus. However, an intruding intermodal stimulus of approximately the same intensity caused large GSRs. These results support an explanation based on expectancy or the “neuronal model” of Sokolov, provided suitable allowance is made for changes in specificity of the model as a result of variations in the experimental situation.
A SIMPLE METHOD FOR THE CONNECTION OF LEAD WIRE TO CORTICAL ELECTRODES
Authors: Mizoguchi Koji , Mitchell C. L.
Published: February 2007

The construction of solderless connections of lead wire to screw and phonograph needle electrodes is described. The advantages of the method are: (1) the mounting of the electrodes is very easy, (2) there is no chance of breaking the connection during the insertion of the electrodes, (3) the electrodes can be easily cleaned after each experiment, and (4) the procedure results in contact of the electrode with the dura.
THE CARDIAC RESPONSE TO A PERCEPTUAL COGNITIVE TASK IN THE YOUNG CHILD
Authors: Lewis Michael , Wilson Cornelia Dodd
Published: February 2007

It has been argued that an important determinant of the cardiac response is the subject's intended transaction with his environment. The present study was designed to investigate whether cardiac deceleration would accompany the solution of a perceptual discrimination problem, whether the degree of cardiac deceleration would be related to the accuracy of the response, and the relationship between general intellectual ability and the cardiac response to the problem. Fifty‐one subjects, 44 months of age, were each given 20 trials of a matching figures task. This task required that S match a figure (called standard) to one of four variations (one of which was identical to the standard). EKG was continuously recorded along with the latency and the accuracy of the response. If the first response was incorrect, S was asked to choose again.

The results indicated: (1) There was a significant cardiac deceleration from the time S received the standard until he made his first choice. If the first response was correct, the cardiac rate, within 1–3 beats, returned to resting level; however, if S was told to guess again, the cardiac rate remained decelerated. (2) While accuracy of response was found to be related to the cardiac response, the effect was eliminated when response speed was controlled. (3) The degree of cardiac deceleration was correlated with general intellectual function as measured by a standard IQ test; however, it was significant only for girls.
MEAN HEART RATE PREDICTED BY TASK DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS
Authors: Dahl Hartvig , Spence Donald P.
Published: February 2007

Mean HRs recorded during sequences of perceptual‐motor and cognitive tasks were predicted from ratings of task characteristics such as complexity and frequency of stimuli, transformations, and responses. In three separate groups of Ss and tasks the correlations between mean HRs and task demand ratings were ≥.91.
HEART RATE RESPONSES OF THE CURARIZED RAT
Authors: Hahn William W. , Slaughter John
Published: February 2007

Heart rate of curarized and non‐curarized rats was recorded while both groups were exposed to classical conditioning procedures with tone as the conditional stimulus (CS) and shock as the unconditional stimulus (UCS). The unconditional HR response of curarized animals to the tone was significantly greater than that of the non‐curarized animals, while the HR response to shock of the curarized animals was significantly less than that of the non‐curarized group. Both groups showed evidence of conditioning over 30 conditioning trials.
MANIPULATION OF CONTRAST BETWEEN DIFFERENTIAL GSRs IN VERY YOUNG CHILDREN
Authors: Lieblich Israel
Published: February 2007

Each one of 26 children, aged 3 and 4, was tested in 6 ordered information detection sequences. Physiological responsiveness was observed in the GSR. It was found that Short Term Physiological Activation (STPA) could be manipulated in the predicted order using combinations of the following facets: a) frequency of usage of the stimulus by the organism, b) relevance of the stimulus to the organism, and c) whether or not a verbal response to the stimulus was required. The results were similar to those observed previously in an adult sample (Lieblich, 1969).
THE EFFECT OF INDUCED HEART RATE CHANGE AND NEUROTICISM ON THE RESOLUTION OF TEMPORALLY PAIRED FLASHES
Authors: Boissonneault D. R. , Dorosh M. E. , Tong J. E.
Published: February 2007

Normal high extraversion male subjects with high scores on a neuroticism scale were compared with similar subjects with low neuroticism scores, as to changes in the discrimination of paired flashes, brought about by activation‐induced heart rate increase. A threshold for fusion indicated slightly improved resolution for the low neuroticism group under increased heart rate, but a marked deterioration for the high neuroticism group. Two signal detection analyses indicated that the differential effects could not be attributed to response criteria and one analysis indicated group differences in sensitivity under activation.
THE EFFECT OF GSR CONFIRMED PERCEPTION OF BISENSORY INPUT ON IMMEDIATE VERBAL MEMORY
Authors: Snider Irving J. , Bregman Albert S.
Published: February 2007

Following adaptation, Ss learned visually presented paired associate (PA) word lists, while “distracting” verbal material was read aloud to them. Skin resistance was recorded. Ss who received auditory “interference” containing words present in the PA task made fewer errors than controls. An objective scoring method showed that GSR peaks following the onset of relevant words in the “interference” were more frequent than those following control words, confirming Ss' verbal reports of perception of and attention to relevant stimuli. The improved learning could not be accounted for by changes in the tonic level of skin resistance, but seemed to be a direct result of the bimodal input.
INSTRUMENTAL MODIFICATION OF THE GSR
Authors: Martin Randall B. , Dean Sanford J.
Published: February 2007

Four experiments investigated the effects of instructions, response‐contingent shock, and the latency of the critical response on the GSR. Using a discrimination procedure, in which responding in the presence of one stimulus avoided shock while responding in the presence of another led to shock, it was found that relative to non‐instructed, yoked‐noncontingent conditions, instructed subjects responded at higher levels to the respond stimuli and at lower levels to inhibit stimuli. The effects of instructions appeared stronger than the effects of the shock contingencies. Only when the “contingent” GSR was of the “anticipatory” latency were differential effects obtained, however. No effects were observed in the absence of cognitive mediation.
THE EFFECT OF EXOGENOUS CHANGES IN HEART RATE AND RHYTHM UPON REACTION TIME PERFORMANCE
Authors: Nowlin John B. , Eisdorfer Carl , Whalen Robert , Troyer William G.
Published: February 2007

The influence of different heart rates and rhythm on reaction time performance was examined in two groups of experimental subjects, heart rate in one group being varied by atrial pacing and in the other group by ventricular pacing. A mixed preparatory interval series of visual reaction time trials was employed, with preparatory interval durations of 3, 4, and 5 sec. Study 1 subjects, exposed to atrial pacing in a cardiac catheterization laboratory immediately before coronary artery cineangiography, demonstrated no change in reaction time response with the pacing situation when heart rate was 115 beats per minute (bpm). Response speed was most rapid with the 5 sec preparatory interval, slowest with the exposure to an exogenously‐induced tachycardia. Presentation first of a variable paced tachycardia following a regular tachycardia was associated with slightly prolonged times in both situations, as compared to reaction time produced with the reverse order of pacing presentation. These differences were not statistically significant. Presence or absence of cineangiographic evidence or coronary arteriosclerosis within Study 1 exerted no effect on reaction time performance. Study 2 individuals, paced with an external (Chardack) pacemaker in a quiet laboratory environment, confirmed the results obtained from Study 1. These data would suggest that the level of background heart rate is unimportant as a determinant of reaction time response.
SOME PARAMETERS OF HEART RATE CHANGE: PERCEPTUAL VERSUS MOTOR TASK REQUIREMENTS, NOXIOUSNESS, AND UNCERTAINTY
Authors: Jennings J. Richard , Averill James R. , Opton Edward M. , Lazarus Richard S.
Published: February 2007

Sensory‐motor integration and physiological patterns were investigated in a modified reaction time task. Following a READY signal, one of 2 DISCRIMINATIVE signals indicated that a right or left reaction was to be made to a GO signal. For one group, the DISCRIMINATIVE and GO signals occurred simultaneously; for another group, the GO signal was delayed 10 sec. In different sessions, shock occurred with the DISCRIMINATIVE signal on 0%, 33%, or 100% of the trials. The basic pattern of heart rate response was the same in all conditions, namely, acceleration followed by deceleration immediately prior to the DISCRIMINATIVE and GO signals. All experimental manipulations appeared to contribute to cardiac deceleration; for example, the greatest decrease occurred prior to the simultaneous DISCRIMINATIVE‐GO signal with 33% shock probability. The least deceleration (and fastest reaction times) occurred to the delayed GO signal. Anticipation of a motor response and or shock also accentuated the accelerative limb of the heart rate curve, as well as producing increased skin conductance. Muscle action potentials from the chin showed an equivocal relationship to cardiac acceleration (or less deceleration) and to faster reaction times. Results are discussed in terms of an attentional hypothesis, and their relevance to speculations by Lacey and Obrist is examined.
RESPIRATION AND SUCKING AS COMPONENTS OF THE ORIENTING REACTION IN NEWBORNS
Authors: Sameroff Arnold J.
Published: February 2007

Respiratory and non‐nutritive sucking responses to auditory stimulation were studied in 1‐ to 5‐day old human newborns. Each S was presented 5 stimuli, each 4 times, during 4 sessions at 24 hour intervals. The stimuli varied in intensity and intermittency. Stimulus onset and offset shortened sucking bursts during Sessions I‐III, but in Session IV stimulus offset lengthened sucking bursts. In general, respiration was accelerated by stimulus onset and decelerated by stimulus offset. However, in Session IV respiratory deceleration occurred to both stimulus onset and offset. Respiratory deceleration also occurred to low intensity stimuli in Sessions I‐III. Respiratory acceleration and sucking inhibition were discussed as components of the newborn's defense reaction (DR) to most stimulation. Respiratory deceleration was related to appearance of orienting reaction (OR) after habituation of DR. Ss' respiratory responsivity and sucking responsivity were highly correlated.
APPARATUS AND TECHNIQUE FOR WORK WITH THE CURARIZED RAT
Authors: Hahn William W.
Published: February 2007

Apparatus for respirating the curarized rat is described. Important variables in obtaining a stable curarized rat preparation are the volume and pressure of air with which the animal is respirated. Heart rate is a convenient indicator of the adequacy of respiration and a bleed valve added to the respirator allows fine volume adjustments which result in a stable, moderate level HR of 350‐420 bpm and a variability of 20‐40 bpm. It is also important to keep the animal at a steady depth of curarization, and maintain adequate body temperature.
THE PAROTID PUZZLE: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON HUMAN SALIVATION AND ITS APPLICATIONS TO PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY
Authors: Brown Clinton C.
Published: February 2007

A survey of the literature on human salivation is presented with emphasis upon the influence of normal and psychopathologic emotional states as they affect alterations in factors relating to flow rate. Discussion includes neurological and physiological features of the gland, individuality of response, results of classical and operant conditioning, and suggested areas for future research.
CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS: A MODEL FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF MULTIMODAL CIRCADIAN SPECTRA
Authors: Saltzberg Bernard
Published: February 2007

A nonlinear circadian model is postulated as the underlying process in the generation of biological data containing several significant non‐24‐hour rhythms. The model (a) attributes observed multimodal dispersion to the nonlinear influence of processes which modulate the circadian rhythm, but which are very slow compared to 24‐hour processes, and (b) provides quantitative estimates of the period of this slow modulation, as well as the period of the basic circadian rhythm. Under this model, circadian data previously presumed to be anomalous gives a consistent derived basic rhythm of about 24 hours.
PERSONALITY AND HABITUATION OF THE ORIENTING REACTION: TONIC AND RESPONSE MEASURES OF ELECTRODERMAL ACTIVITY
Authors: Coles Michael G. H. , Gale Anthony , Kline Paul
Published: February 2007

Eysenck's (1967) hypotheses concerning Extraversion, Neuroticism, and physiological reactivity were tested in relation to habituation. A factorial design, varying Extraversion (three levels) and Neuroticism (two levels) was employed: 60 subjects, 10 per cell. Both tonic and response measures of electrodermal activity (skin conductance) were recorded.

The results showed: (1) High Neurotics were more reactive than Low Neurotics (for two measures of habituation and total number of responses); (2) Extraversion was inversely related to spontaneous activity; (3) Latency of first response was moderately related (10% level only) both to Neuroticism (inversely) and to Extra‐version (directly); (4) Tonic conductance measures failed to discriminate between groups; (5) Measures which discriminated between personality groups were inter‐correlated.

Since the measures taken were related to both Extraversion and Neuroticism, the findings do not support Eysenck's prediction that these measures are related to Extraversion alone.
A HYBRID CIRCUIT TO INDICATE THE PRESENCE OF ALPHA ACTIVITY
Authors: Paskewitz David A.
Published: February 2007

A circuit is described which, in conjunction with an analog filter, greatly increases the accuracy of the identification of EEG alpha activity. With minor modifications, the same circuit may be used to identify other EEG frequency bands. Construction is simplified through the use of integrated circuits. A functional description and circuit details are given.
PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
Authors: Graham David T.
Published: February 2007

Psychophysiology is just as closely related to internal medicine as it is to psychiatry. “Psychological variable” has two distinct meanings: a) an external sensory stimulus, or b) an organismic state described in psychological language. “Psychological” and “Physical” are names of two different languages. There is no such thing as a non‐physical illness. Asking whether emotions cause diseases, or diseases cause emotions, leads to many difficulties and is unprofitable. It is far more useful to ask about stimulus‐response relationships. There are more kinds of specificity relations in psychophysiology and psychosomatic medicine than are usually recognized, and the usual specificity statements in psychosomatic medicine are not concerned with I‐R or S‐R specificity. There are many problems in medicine which psychophysiology could help to solve.
THE EFFECTS OF INSTRUCTIONAL SET AND AUTONOMIC PERCEPTION ON CARDIAC CONTROL
Authors: Bergman Joel S. , Johnson Harold J.
Published: February 2007

Fifty‐four Ss were divided into three instructional groups. One group was instructed to increase their heart rate (HR) every time a signal was presented; a second group was told to decrease their HR; and a control group was not instructed to change their HR in any direction. Results indicate that Ss can increase or decrease their HR in the absence of externalized feedback. These HR changes do not appear to be mediated by respiration or skin resistance variations. In addition, Ss were divided into groups on the basis of their APQ scores. The group with middle APQ scores displayed more HR control in both directions than Ss with high or low APQ scores. The study was replicated with 42 Ss and results support the HR increase but not the HR decrease findings.
RAPID EYE MOVEMENT DENSITY AND PATTERN IN THE SLEEP OF NORMAL YOUNG ADULTS
Authors: Aserinsky Eugene
Published: February 2007

The dispersion and concentration of rapid eye movements (REMs) during nocturnal sleep was measured in 10 healthy adult subjects. A frequency distribution of the time intervals between REMs was multimodal, and provided an estimate for the minimal time separating the REMs into aggregates. A gap of 22 min between two successive REMs almost certainly delineated the groups of REMs on either side of the gap as REM Periods (REMPs). Although the minimal time necessary to define bursts of REMs within the REMP was not as clear, it appeared to be in the vicinity of 8 sec. Bursts in the late REMPs tended to be longer and have more REMs than did bursts in the early REMPs. Yet, there was no marked difference in the number of bursts per min of REMP in comparing the early and late REMPs.

A consistent pattern of ocular activity was noted within the first 20 min of REMPs. REM activity peaked 5‐10 min after the onset of the REMP and then declined significantly 10 min later. The data also suggested the existence of a cyclic pattern, i.e. a 40 min REMP had two peaks of REM activity, and a 60 min REMP had three peaks. The relationship of visual imagery in dreaming to REM activity was discussed.
THE EFFECTS OF VARIED RESPIRATORY RATE AND VOLUME UPON FINGER PULSE VOLUME
Authors: Shean Glenn D. , Stange Patrick W.
Published: February 2007

The effects of varied conditions of respiratory rate and volume upon finger pulse volume were investigated. Results indicated that any change in ongoing respiratory activity resulted in maximal digital vasoconstriction within 4–6 sec, and that these effects were greatest during deep breathing. The relevance of these findings for investigations of vasomotor conditioning are discussed.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PALMAR SKIN POTENTIAL AND CONDUCTANCE IN RELAXED HUMAN SUBJECTS
Authors: Christie Margaret J. , Venables Peter H.
Published: February 2007

An investigation of mechanisms generating palmar skin potential level (SPL) was undertaken from relaxed subjects in a non‐arousing environment. In these circumstances it was possible to obtain recordings where there were no skin potential responses (SPRs). At such times of quiescence, SPLs, recorded with 0.5% KCl as the external electrolyte medium, had characteristics which differed from SPLs recorded when there were SPRs. The potentials recorded at the beginning of these periods of quiescence were designated “basal” skin potential levels (BSPLs).

BSPLs were demonstrated in other than optimal conditions for achieving basal state, i.e., with non‐habituated subjects, and with subjects carrying out an undemanding cognitive task; the relevance of these findings to the use of SPL as an index of arousal in unstimulating conditions is discussed.

An interpretation of BSPL phenomena is possible in terms of a relationship between electrode electrolyte and individual values of body fluid potassium.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIVITY AS A PREDICTOR OF PERFORMANCE IN A VIGILANCE TASK
Authors: Coles Michael G. H. , Gale Anthony
Published: February 2007

The experiment was designed to determine the value of measures of physiological activity as predictors of performance in a vigilance task. Subjects, for whom resting (EEG, heart rate, and skin conductance) and response (electrodermal) measures were available, were given an auditory vigilance task. Overall vigilance performance was significantly correlated with one measure of electrodermal habituation, latency of response to the first of a series of stimuli, and total number of responses to stimuli. None of the measures of resting physiological activity were significantly related to vigilance performance. The results are discussed in terms of Mackworth's (1969) theory of vigilance.
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN ORIENTING, CONDITIONABILITY, AND SKIN RESISTANCE RESPONSIVITY
Authors: Zeiner Arthur R. , Schell Anne M.
Published: February 2007

Forty‐eight college students, after serving as Ss in a SRR discrimination conditioning experiment, were divided into quartiles on magnitude of SRR to both noxious (UCS) and innocuous (CS) stimuli. With both orienting response (OR) measures, i.e. to the CS and to the UCS, it was shown that subjects giving large ORs gave significantly larger responses to both CS+ and CS− (during conditioning) than did Ss giving small ORs. On the basis of the innocuous stimulus split, Ss giving large ORs demonstrated both significantly faster and greater discrimination conditioning than did Ss giving small ORs. Such differences in rate and amount of discrimination conditioning were not demonstrated with the noxious stimulus split. In other words, with the noxious stimulus measure there is only a significant response level effect, but with the innocuous stimulus definition of OR, there is a significant response level effect, and a significant effect on rate and amount of discrimination conditioning. Thus, noxious and innocuous stimulus definitions of OR do not appear to be measuring the same process.
EFFECTS OF DEPTH AND RATE OF BREATHING ON HEART RATE AND HEART RATE VARIABILITY
Authors: Sroufe L. Alan
Published: February 2007

Effects of depth and rate of breathing on heart rate (HR) and HR variability were observed in two experiments. Respiration rate (RR) affected only cardiac stability, faster breathing producing more stable cardiac rate. Respiration depth (RD) affected both HR level and variability. Deep breathing produced faster, more variable HR, while shallow breathing had the opposite effects. A third experiment, in which Ss were trained to control HR using respiration, further illustrated the dramatic effects of respiration on cardiac rate. Implications of these results for experiments utilizing HR as a dependent variable and studies of autonomic control were discussed.
DIRECT MEASUREMENT OF SKIN CONDUCTANCE: A PROPOSAL FOR STANDARDIZATION
Authors: Lykken David T. , Venables Peter H.
Published: February 2007

A provisional standard method of measuring tonic skin conductance (SCL) and GSR (SCR) is advocated, using a constant‐voltage method for which circuits are provided useable with Beckman, Grass, and other common polygraphs. A standard electrode methodology is also presented. The problem of units of measurement is considered in detail with an analysis of the so‐called Law of Initial Values. Methods are given for correcting both tonic SC and SCRs for individual differences in their respective ranges of variation and the purpose and relative advantages of these range‐correction methods are discussed.
AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SKIN RESISTANCE SWITCH
Authors: Macpherson Leonard , Hutchings Michael L. , Kopell Bert S.
Published: February 2007

A touch operated switch is described that uses a simple skin resistance detection circuit. This ‘isometric push‐button” type switch has no moving parts, is noiseless, and absorbs the minimum of energy from the subject. It was primarily designed for psychophysiological experiments where an operant response is required.
INCREASED ACCURACY OF BINOCULAR DEPTH PERCEPTION FOLLOWING REM SLEEP PERIODS
Authors: Berger Ralph J. , Scott Thomas D.
Published: February 2007

It has been proposed that REM sleep maintains facilitation of coordinated eye movements necessary for accurate binocular depth perception (Berger, 1969). This experiment confirmed the prediction that binocular depth perception would be more accurate at the ends of REM periods than at their onsets. Eight male subjects were studied during 4 non‐consecutive nights of sleep. Accuracy of binocular and monocular depth perception were measured with different apparatus in the evening prior to sleep onset, after awakenings made alternately at the onsets or ends of REM periods, and 15 min after awakening in the morning. Accuracy of binocular depth perception was significantly better at the ends of REM periods than at their onsets (p < .001), whereas accuracy of monocular depth perception did not significantly differ. That the monocular task was sensitive to variables of sleep was indicated by impairment at the first REM onset with little variation throughout the night, so that it was significantly worse 15 min after morning awakening than the previous evening (p < .05). In contrast, accuracy of binocular depth perception was significantly better in the morning than the previous evening and at REM onsets (p < .05).
Operant Conditioning of Cardiac Function: A Status Report
Authors: Engel Bernard T.
Published: February 2007

The mechanisms of operant conditioning of cardiac function can be analyzed in terms of cardiodynamics, hemodynamics, neural regulations, and psychological regulations. These separate analyses help to suggest a number of experimental hypotheses. Analyses of data from early and late phases of conditioning show that performance at these two stages of training is different: Analyses of acquisition mechanisms must come from the early phase of training, however, analyses of control mechanisms should probably be derived from chronic studies.