bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Recuperative Effects of REM Sleep and Stage 4 Sleep on Human Performance After Complete Sleep Loss: Experiment 1
Authors: Lubin A. , Moses J. M. , Johnson L. C. , Naitoh P.
Published: February 2007

Twelve young (17–21 yrs) male Navy recruits volunteered for a sleep loss study. After 4 baseline days, the Ss were completely deprived of sleep for 2 days and nights. Next followed an experimental phase of 2 days and nights after which all Ss received 2 nights of uninterrupted sleep.

During the experimental phase, the 4 Ss in the REM‐deprived group were aroused whenever they showed signs of REM sleep. The 4 Ss of the stage 4‐deprived group were aroused whenever they showed signs of entering stage 4 sleep, and the 4 Ss of the Control group had uninterrupted sleep.

All tests (speed and accuracy of addition, speed and accuracy of self‐paced vigilance, errors of omission in experimenter paced vigilance, immediate recall of word lists, and mood) showed significant impairment after the first night of complete sleep loss. But during the experimental (sleep‐stage‐deprivation) and recovery phases, all three groups showed equal rates of recovery.

Depriving the S of stage REM or stage 4 during recovery sleep does not affect the recuperation rate. Frequent arousals (50–100 per night) also do not impair recovery. The amount of sleep is probably more important than the kind of sleep.
Interaction of REM Deprivation and Stage 4 Deprivation With Total Sleep Loss: Experiment 2
Authors: Johnson L. C. , Naitoh P. , Moses J. M. , Lubin A.
Published: February 2007

To determine whether prior deprivation of stage REM or stage 4 sleep would potentiate the effects of total sleep loss, 7 young adult males were denied REM sleep and 7 were denied stage 4 sleep for 3 nights before 1 night of total sleep loss. Measures of autonomic and EEG activity, mood, anxiety, Rorschach CET and on several performance tasks were obtained during baseline, following stage deprivation, total sleep loss, and during recovery.

There were no marked changes in any area following 3 nights of stage REM and stage 4 deprivation. The changes following total sleep loss were similar for both groups. Prior deprivation of stage REM or stage 4 did not potentiate sleep loss effects. Ss who had no stage deprivation prior to 1 night of sleep loss had more impairment following sleep loss than did the Ss of this study.
Heart Rate and Skin Conductance in Anticipation of Shocks With Varying Probability of Occurrence
Authors: Peter Bankart C. , Elliott Rogers
Published: February 2007

In Experiment I,Ss in each of four groups were given 8 shocks in either 8, 11, 16, or 32 trials, confounding probability with number of trials. Each trial was a countdown period of 30 sec, with an ITI of 30 sec. There were no shock probability effects using either heart rate (HR) or skin conductance (SC), with respect either to average within trial changes or to average pre‐shock levels relative to rest. In every group after a large acceleration in Trial 1, HR subsided and stabilized; SC rose steadily throughout the session. In Experiment II, Ss in each of four groups were given either 5, 10, 15, or 20 shocks in 20 trials, confounding probability with number of shocks. In addition to the large HR acceleration in the first trial, there were in this case between‐group differences in HR, which were a direct function of number and probability of shocks. Skin conductance did not discriminate the groups, though it rose in all groups both within and across trials. Experiment III, a partial replication of Experiment II, showed that the HR differences in Experiment II failed to repeat when the shock intensity was reduced; and SC no longer increased over trials.
Sensation Seeking and Cortical Augmenting‐Reducing
Authors: Zuckerman Marvin , Murtaugh Thomas , Siegel Jerome
Published: February 2007

The experiment was designed to establish the relationship between the Sensation Seeking Scales (SSS) and cortical augmenting‐reducing. Forty‐nine male undergraduate Ss were used. Ss were presented with five intensities of light flashes in randomly presented blocks of trials at each intensity. Averaged evoked response (AER) amplitudes were measured at each intensity of light. Augmenting‐reducing was measured for each S as the slope of the relationship between stimulus intensity and amplitude of response. This slope measure correlated very significantly (r= .59) with the Disinhibition subscale of the SSS and positively, but not significantly, with other subscales. Comparing the low and high scorers on the Disinhibition scale, a significant interaction between groups and stimulus intensities was found but no main effects of stimulus intensity or groups were found. The high Disinhibitors did not differ from the lows at the low stimulus intensities but did differ significantly at the highest intensity where the lows showed a marked reducing tendency. The results show an interesting convergence between the Disinhibition type of sensation seeking, manic tendencies, and the AER.
Effects of Brief Relaxation Training on Autonomic Response to Anxiety‐Evoking Stimuli
Authors: Connor William H.
Published: February 2007

Relaxation training procedures used in systematic desensitization are abbreviated forms of procedures developed by Jacobson to decrease muscle tension level and assumed by Gellhorn to affect autonomic balance. Autonomic response effects of relaxation training are sometimes considered secondary to either cognitive or autonomic level change. In the present experiment, specific instruction and training was provided in making relaxation responses to a cue stimulus which was used subsequently in two mild anxiety conditions. Brief relaxation training did not significantly affect either verbal report of anxiety or autonomic level following training, but did affect autonomic response in the anxiety conditions. The results suggest that autonomic response modification can be accomplished by instruction and relatively minimal training. Also, the results indicate that autonomic response effects need not be accompanied by either verbal report of greater relaxation or autonomic level modification. These results are difficult to account for by any theoretical model of desensitization which considers autonomic response change secondary to either cognitive or autonomic level change.
The Relative Reliability of Average Evoked Response Parameters
Authors: Stark Louis H. , Norton James C.
Published: February 2007

Nineteen male alcoholics served as subjects in a study to determine the relative test‐retest reliability of various average evoked response (AER) parameters. Slope was found to be the most reliable measure. Implications for group studies using AER techniques are drawn.
Posterior Alpha‐Wave Characteristics of Eidetic Children
Authors: Furst Charles J. , Gardner Joanne , Kamiya Joe
Published: February 2007

An investigation was conducted of a group of 4 children who reported having eidetic images. It was found that high‐amplitude occipital alpha activity occurs during eidetic periods, contrary to the usual observation in adults that visual imagery tends to block alpha waves. In addition, these children were found to have higher resting baseline alpha than their classmates.
Overextinction of the Evoked Skin Conductance Response: An EEG Study
Authors: Siddle David A. T.
Published: February 2007

The present study was designed to investigate Sokolov's (1963) proposal that overextinction of the orienting response (OR) is related to sleep onset. A series of 80 auditory stimuli was presented to 22 male and female Ss. Although re‐evocation of the skin conductance response (SCR) component of the OR occurred, in the majority of Ss, after 40–50 stimulus presentations, this was not accompanied by any change in cortical alertness as measured by integrated EEG output in three frequency bands (2–4, 4–8, and 8–13 Hz). However, the results did indicate that Ss displaying SCR return required more stimulus presentations before initial SCR habituation and displayed more spontaneous fluctuations in skin conductance during the prestimulus period than did non‐return Ss. Within the return group, latency of SCR return was negatively related to both spontaneous activity during the prestimulus period and number of stimuli to initial habituation.
Amplitude and Habituation of the Orienting Reflex as a Function of Stimulus Intensity
Authors: Jackson Jan C.
Published: February 2007

Two within‐S experiments involving 20 Ss each and one between‐S experiment employing 100 Ss were performed to examine effects of stimulus intensity on orienting response amplitude and habituation. Five intensities of a 1000 Hz tone were presented, ranging from 0 to 40 dB in Experiment I and from 0 to 80 dB in Experiments II and III. Response measures were skin conductance response (SCR) and heart rate (HR). Skin conductance response amplitude increased monotonically with stimulus intensity while HR deceleration was a generally decreasing function which tended to decrease, increase, and finally decrease again as intensity increased.

Not only was deceleration greatest at 0 dB but it was more resistant to habituation. Several intensities of test stimulation were presented after habituating stimuli in the between‐S experiment. Skin conductance response to test stimuli was facilitated by habituation at 0 dB and depressed by habituation at 80 dB. The results suggest a direct relationship between stimulus intensity and development of habituation.
An Empirical Test of Sokolov's Entropy Model of the Orienting Response
Authors: Velden M.
Published: February 2007

Several hypotheses, most of them deduced from Sokolov's entropy model of the Orienting Response (OR), were tested. The Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) served as the indicator of the OR. Printed language, analyzed with regard to the information content in bits, was used as stimulus material. Forty‐eight female students served as subjects. The results indicate: (1) that the uncertainty of a situation does not determine the strength of the OR, (2) that the strength of the OR depends on the information carried by an event, and (3) that the processing of this information, as indicated by the OR, may be delayed by one or more events in a serial application. For tonic level over a series of events no trend could be found.
Voluntary Control of ‘Involuntary’ Functions: The Approach of the Stoics
Authors: McMahon C. E.
Published: February 2007

The Stoics expressed great concern about emotion related psychophysiological phenomena as pathological states of body and spirit. They outlined procedures through which all bodily functions could be brought under voluntary control. The Pneumatist School of Medicine of the first century A.D. adopted these philosophical convictions and instituted them in their diagnostic and treatment techniques for psychosomatic disorders. Pneumatic theory, and its application in this context, is described.

How easy it is to repel and to wipe away every impression which is troublesome or unsuitable, and immediately to be in all tranquility…. Nature has not so mingled the intelligence with the composition of the body, as not to have allowed thee the power of circumscribing thyself and of bringing under submission to thyself all that is thy own.

Marcus Aurelius
Newborn Responses to Nonsignal Auditory Stimuli: I. Electroencephalographic Desynchronization
Authors: Schaefer Arlene B.
Published: February 2007

There are suggestions in the literature that the electroencephalographic (EEG) desynchronization response is in the newborn's repertoire. The present investigation was designed to examine that possibility under stringent experimental conditions. Sixteen normal neonates were presented with a 1‐Sec pure tone or white noise during one episode of quiet sleep and one episode of active sleep. Flat activity during stimulated quiet sleep was compared with spontaneous periods of low voltage activity during a nonstimulated quiet sleep episode. Comparisons were also made between responses in quiet sleep with and without prior stimulation in active sleep. Habituation and dishabituation were studied by presenting the nonfamiliar stimulus after repetition of the original stimulus. Increased EEG desynchronization to stimulation was found but the response appears to be a complex function of the type of stimulus, recording location, stimulus repetition, and the prior experience variable. The results have implications for differential maturation of the brain, the perceptual capacities of the neonate, and the controversy over orientation in the newborn.
Cognitive Control Factors in Vascular Stress Responses
Authors: DeGood Douglas E.
Published: February 2007

In a 2 × 2 factorial experiment, 24 internal and 24 external locus of control subjects underwent an aversive shock‐avoidance procedure. Half of the subjects were permitted to temporarily escape the situation whenever they wished by requesting a rest period, while the remaining subjects had comparable rest periods imposed on them by the experimenter. Control over initiation of the rest periods had an arousal‐reducing effect on systolic blood pressure. Diastolic pressure indicated an interaction of locus of control with the situational availability of a self‐initiated escape response, with blood pressure elevations the lowest where the personality and situational control factors were congruous.
Cardiovascular and Neurophysiologic Correlates of Sensory Intake and Rejection. I. Effect of Cognitive Tasks
Authors: Williams Redford B. , Bittker Thomas E. , Buchsbaum Monte S. , Wynne Lyman C.
Published: February 2007

In this study of the relationship between sensory processing and cardiovascular function, five cardiovascular parameters were monitored during baseline periods and during tasks requiring either sensory intake or sensory rejection behavior on the part of 19 subjects. Sensory intake behavior was associated with a pattern of response similar lo that seen with activation of peripheral sympathetic nerves‐vasoconstriction in both the digit (skin) and forearm (skeletal muscle). In contrast, sensory rejection behavior was associated with vasodilatation in the forearm and vasoconstriction in the digit. Individual differences in an EEG measure of characteristic ways of processing sensory information were predictably associated with differences in resting cardiovascular function. The association of sensory intake with a skeletal muscle vasoconstriction may help to extend our understanding of the physiology of sensory processing, since heretofore only heart rate and somatic motor activity have reliably differentiated sensory intake from sensory rejection behavior.
On‐Line Period Analysis of EEG By Time‐to‐Amplitude Conversion (TAC)
Authors: Rouse Larry O.
Published: February 2007

A simple and inexpensive single channel analyzer is described which can simultaneously detect precise frequency bands in the EEG, operate a feedback, and feed an on‐line multichannel analyzer capable of spectral analyzing period independent of amplitude above a variable feedforward threshold.
Newborn Offspring of a Schizophrenic Parent: Cardiac Reactivity to Auditory Stimuli
Authors: Schachter J. , Kerr J. , Lachin J. M. , Faer M.
Published: February 2007

Heart rate level and phasic responses to auditory stimuli were recorded in a total of 39 newborn offspring with one schizophrenic parent and compared to those of 82 newborns with no family history of a schizophrenic disorder as well as to those of 48 newborns with a possible family history of A schizophrenic disorder. Newborns were tested for 31/2 hrs on the second and, again, on the third postnatal day, and the data were analyzed in relation to a number of prenatal variables. Results indicated a significant interaction between diagnostic group and the level of maternal delivery medication for the change in heart rate level during the second, but not the third, postnatal day. The possible validity of this finding is discussed, and reasons for the failure to obtain more definitive heart rate differences between these groups of newborns are considered.
Some Factors Influencing the Vasomotor Response to Cold Pressor Stimulation
Authors: Lovallo William , Zeiner Arthur R.
Published: February 2007

The purpose of the present experiment was to investigate the effect of initial level of vasomotor tonus, as measured by pulse‐wave amplitude, on the cutaneous blood‐volume response to a 1‐min cold immersioa of an extremity. The design included 3 test sessions, I wk apart, in which room temperature was set at either 32°C, 22°C, or 12°C. Pulse‐wave amplitude and blood volume of the left thumb were recorded plethysmographically. Room temperature manipulated the state of the peripheral vasculature successfully, with subjects at 12°C having smaller pulse‐wave amplitudes than at 32°C, during rest, It has been specifically hypothesized that when subjects were more constricted at rest, as at 12°C, the response to cold immersion would be an increase in blood volume, and when they were more dilated, as at 32°C, that the response would he a drop in blood volume, while subjects at 22°C would fall in between. It was further hypothesized that should CP habituation occur over the 3 sessions, it would be seen as a smaller drop for the 32°C and 22°C sessions and a smaller volume increase for the 12°C sessions. Both hypotheses were supported by the data. The results indicate that the magnitude and direction of change in cutaneous vascular systems depends on prestimulus tonus, and that the response to cold stress is not strictly stimulus bound, but that is dependent equally as much upon initial level of tonus. Habituation is seen as a decrease in response magnitude, regardless of direction.
Autonomic Responses to Affective Visual Stimuli
Authors: Klorman Rafael , Wiesknfeld Alan R. , Austin Mary L.
Published: February 2007

Thirty‐two subjects were categorized by an objective questionnaire as high or low in fear of mutilation. These subjects viewed six slides each from three categories: neutral, incongruous, and mutilation. As predicted, fearful subjects' cardiac responses to mutilation were acceleratory and their counterparts' deceleratory. Both groups reacted to incongruous stimuli with heart rate deceleration. Unexpectedly, both samples displayed cardiac acceleration to the neutral category. Respiratory patterns of initial expiration characterized low‐fear subjects whereas inspiration was typical in the high‐fear group. However, respiratory activity did not vary over slide types. The high‐fear sample emitted electrodermal responses of greater amplitude and slower recovery to mutilation slides than to the other categories. In both respects, the high‐fear sample exceeded their counterparts. Finally, fearful subjects exhibited a more pronounced tendency to judge mutilation slides more aversive than incongruous or neutral materials. In general, responses to mutilation materials indicated reactions of defense in fearful subjects and orientation in low‐fear persons.
Cardiac Response to Simple Stimuli as a Function of Phase of the Respiratory Cycle
Authors: Hart James D.
Published: February 2007

To evaluate respiratory effects on the cardiac response to simple stimuli, 10 female subjects were presented with a series of 20 100 dB tones with stimulus onset occurring at either peak expiration or peak inspiration. The heart rate response at peak inspiration is quartic in form (deceleration‐acceleration‐deceleration‐ acceleration) and differs significantly from that obtained at peak expiration which is cubic in form (acceleration‐deceleration ‐deceleration‐acceleration). These differences can be eliminated, however, by subtracting heart rate values obtained during control periods from the heart rate response to stimulation.
Correlation Between the Chromatic Visual Evoked Response and McCollough Aftereffect
Authors: Galbraith Gary C. , Hohmann Anna , Creutzfeldt Otto D.
Published: February 2007

Eighteen subjects received a 10‐min exposure to alternating stripe‐color patterns designed to elicit the orientation‐specific McCollough red and green complementary aftereffect (CAE). They were also exposed to 7 Hz flickering red and green light in order to elicit the chromatic visual evoked response (CVER) from occipital and vertex electrodes. Spectral analysis of the sinusoid‐like occipital CVER was then compared with strength of aftereffect. Although CVER activity at the fundamental frequency did not correlate significantly with CAE. significant correlations were obtained for CVER activity at higher harmonic frequencies. The results showed that 14 and 21 Hz activity of the green CVER correlated positively with green CAE, and 21 and 28 Hz activity of the red CVER correlated positively with red CAE. These findings agree with the hypothesis that color coding of red involves a faster neural system. Moreover, it appears that achromatic test stimuli elicit complementary aftereffects, the subjective strength of which is not related to the CVER of the training color, but rather the effectiveness of the experienced color to evoke CVER harmonic activity during direct stimulation.
Perceptual Performance as a Function of Intra‐Cycle Cardiac Activity
Authors: Velden Manfred , Juris Michael
Published: February 2007

The purpose of the experiment was to test the hypothesis of a systematic change in perceptual performance within a single cardiac cycle due to the activity of the baroreceptors in carotid sinus. As an index of perceptual performance the ds‐parameter from signal detection theory (TSD) was used. A 1000 Hz sine tone had to be detected in a background of white noise. Each of 4 subjects received on the average 4605 noise or noise plus tone stimuli distributed over 10 experimental sessions. When comparing performance during time intervals before and after baroreceptor activity onset no significant difference was found. Also, when tracing perceptual performance over the whole cardiac cycle in steps of 66,100, and 200 msec, no systematic variation could be detected. For steps of 33 msec a rhythmic pulsation of perceptual performance of about 8 Hz appeared. An influence of electrical activity of the brain on perceptual performance was postulated. This activity would have to be time‐locked to carotid sinus baroreceptor activity.
Effects of the Range of Stimulus‐Variation Upon Habituation of the Orienting Response
Authors: Mino Tetsuro , Miyata Yo
Published: February 2007

The effects of the range of stimulus‐variation upon the habitation and return of the skin resistance response (SRR) component of the orienting response (OR) were investigated in three experiments using human subjects. In Experiment I the habituation and return of the OR were studied in two groups with a wide (Group‐W) und a narrow (Group‐N) range of stimulus‐variation. Habituation in the two groups did not differ, but a differential level of return of the OR to a novel stimulus was observed. In Experiment II the difference in the range was made large and a group presented with a constant stimulus (Group‐C) was added. Again Group‐W and ‐N habituated in the same way as Group‐C. In Experiment III the upper end stimulus of each group was set at the same intensity. The differential return of the OR disappeared, and as before a differential habituation could not he detected between Groups‐W and ‐N. These findings were discussed in reference to Sokolov's neuronal model of the OR.
Autonomic Responsively to Sensory Stimulation in Drug Addicts
Authors: Prystav Gunther H.
Published: February 2007

Skin conductance responses (SCRs), heart rate (HR). arterial blood pressure (BP), and respiration were recorded under rest and sensory stimulation (11 Hz strobe light, 100 dB while noise) in former drug addicts (DC) and in controls (CG) matched for sex and age in a repeated measures design, DC consisted of long‐term users of barbiturates and narcotic analgesics and had been free of drugs for 11 period of 3 wks prior to the first session. The hypothesis was tested that autonomic functions art decreased in DG due to the drug effects. In various ANOVAs significant main effects for all factors were found. The results in DG compared to CG were: (1) diastolic hut not systolic BP was significantly lower: (2) SCR magnitudes were. Significantly smaller during rest periods; (3) SCR magnitudes and SCR recruitment latencies were significantly smaller in both sessions to visual and auditory stimuli; i4 the habituation rates of SCR magnitudes and SCR recruitment latencies were significantly greater at stimulus offset. The results of SCRs and diastolic BP indicated a decreased autonomic activity in the drug dependents compared to the controls.
Relationships Between Bilateral Differences in Body Perception and Bilateral Differences in Skin Conductance Levels
Authors: Varm John G. , Doerr Hans O. , Varni Jill R.
Published: February 2007

Bilateral differences in Ionic skin conductance were found to be related to lateral body awareness. The side of the body reported by the subject to be the side of greater awareness as tested by the Fisher Body Focus (Questionnaire) was also the side of greater tonic skin conductance for those subjects showing statistically reliable bilateral differences in Both skin conductance and body awareness.
Sex Differences in Autonomic Responses to Electric Shock
Authors: Liberson Cathhyn Walters , Liberson W. T.
Published: February 2007

A review of the literature on sexual differences in autonomic responses in electric shock revealed little information as to whether such difference.1; exist. Eighteen male and 18 females were given a rest period of 15 ruin, submitted to 1 min of painful electric stimulation, then given a second 15 min rest period. Comparison were made of autonomic responses of heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure just prior m. during, immediately after the stimulation, and at the end of the second resting period (blood pressure during stimulation being omitted).

Results were analyzed by computerized multiple analysis of variance using trend analysis of repeated measures. Men were found to respond to the shock with significant changes in systolic blood pressure while women responded with significant respiration changes. Although present evidence is not sufficient to explain the psycho physiological reasons for the differences found in this study, it is suggested that in view of the above sex differences, cultural demands may be a contributing factor to the high incidence of heart disease in men of certain age groups in out society.
Heart Rate Preceding Motility in Sleep
Authors: Townsend Richard E. , Johnson Laverne C. , Naitoh Paul , Muzet Alain G.
Published: February 2007

Spontaneous movements in both stage 2 and REM steep are preceded by similar heart rate increase, beginning approximately 8 sec before onset the movement. It is suggested that the HR acceleration before spontaneous movement in sleep is not a gradual response to vascular congestion but, rather, may be triggered by internal arousal stimuli which, like movements, have sleep‐stage‐specific rules of occurrence.
Heart Rate Changes During a Fixed Reaction Time Task in Normal and Retarded Adult Males
Authors: Krupski Antoinette
Published: February 2007

The relationship between heart rate (HR) changes and fixed reaction time (RT) performance was studied in groups of normal and mentally retarded male Ss. Each 5 received blocks of 15 RT trials during 4‐, 7‐, and 13‐sec preparatory intervals. Heart rate was continuously monitored. The results revealed that retarded Ss had significantly slower RT scores, significantly lower basal HR, and lower magnitude HR decelerations prior to reaction signal onset when compared to normal Ss. These group differences were apparent in all three preparatory interval conditions and were interpreted to indicate less accurate covert timing of PI length in retarded 5s. Correlations between HR deceleration (measured during the sec in which the reaction signal occurred) and RI scores lent support to the notion that significant HR deceleration accompanies fast RT responding in all but the 13‐sec PI condition for retarded Ss. In this condition, HR acceleration was related to fast RT performance in retarded Ss. It was suggested that in the 13‐sec PI, retarded Ss exhibited a dissociation between somatic and autonomic response systems which might he related to an information processing deficit in tasks of extended duration.
Auditory Vigilance Correlates of Electrodermal Response Habituation Speed
Authors: Crider Andrew , Adgenbraun C. B.
Published: February 2007

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that individual differences in the speed of habituation of the phasic eleclrodermal response (EDR) reflect characteristic rates of attentional decrement with stimulus repetition. Subjects selected for the extrems of EDR habituation speed to a pure tone were subsequently tested in an auditory vigilance task. Slow habituators showed a high and substained rate of signal detection, while Fast habituatos showed a lower overall rate and a time‐on‐task decrement. Further analyses employing signal detection theory measures indicated that these detection differences were due to group differences in response criterion levels rather than to differences in the rate of attentional decrement. The implications of this finding for understanding individual differences in EDR habituation speed are discussed.
Learned Asymmetry of Localized Electrodermal Responses
Authors: Varni John G.
Published: February 2007

The present study investigated the possibility of establishing bilateral electrodermal responsivity of skin on the digits following the pairing of electric show applied to one hand in conjunction with the visual presentation of a triangle. Ten subjects (Ss) displayed significantly larger electrodermal responses on the hand previously shocked when presented with the image of a triangle without shock. No bilateral differences were observed during the presentation of a neural stimulus a circle, These results are interpreted as supporting the notion of learned a asymmetry of localization electrodermal responses.
The Chemical Control of Preoperative Anxiety
Authors: Williams James G. L. , Jones John R. , Williams Barbara
Published: February 2007

The effect of a psychoactive chemical. diazepam, on reducing physiologically disruptive anxiety in young female patients about to undergo operation was investigated. In a double‐blind study preoperative anxiety was measured by the Skin Conductance Anxiety Test (SCAT) after patients had been given either intravenous diazepam or placebo. It Was found that diazepam reduced the SCAT scores of the more anxious patients to the level of the scores of the less anxious ones, while the latter's scores were not significantly changed. The validity of the SCAT as an objective measure of anxiety was again confirmed and it was concluded that not only did diazepam differentially reduce anxiety levels in accordance with the degree of anxiety present, but that it also reduced to normal levels the excessive amount of thiopental sodium needed fort the induction of anxious patient.
Contingency Theory and Classical Autonomic Excitatory and Inhibitory Conditioning: Some Problems of Assessment and Interpretation
Authors: Furedy John J. , Poulos Constantine X. , Schiffmann Karl
Published: February 2007

The primary aims are to elaborate on and clarify two general issues which are raised in the context of assessing contingency theory: (a) the operational requirements and the psychophysical considerations for assessing autonomic excitatory and inhibitory factors in Pavlovian conditioning, and (b) the topic of the appropriate CR specification in the autonomic electrodermal system. Our substantive conclusion, based on an evaluation of the methodology of available human autonomic studies, is that there is no empirical support for the contingency truly random control procedure. In addition, contrary to the suggestion of striking analogies with the skeletal eyelid system, a latency criterion should not be used to deny associative status to first‐interval electrodermal responses, provided that these do satisfy conventional behavioral criteria for associative conditioning, e.g., discrimination.
Feedback Effects and Respiratory Involvement in Voluntary Control of Heart Rate
Authors: Levenson Robert W.
Published: February 2007

One within‐subject single session experiment involving 30 subjects and one between‐subject single session experiment involving 42 subjects were performed to evaluate the effects of augmented sensory feedback and to specify the nature of cardiac‐respiratory relationships during attempted bi‐directional control of heart rate (HR). Subjects were instructed to attempt to control HR while maintaining a constant respiration rate (RR), and were provided with either no feedback, HR feedback, or HR and RR feedback of the “digital” proportional type. In addition to measures of heart and respiratory period, a measure of respiratory volume was included in the second experiment. Results of both experiments indicate that (1) subjects can significantly increase and decrease HR; (2) feedback does not affect the magnitude or consistency of HR control; (3) significant parallel changes in RR accompany changes in HR regardless of the amount of feedback provided; (4) significant increases in respiratory volume accompany HR increases; and (5) large magnitude HR changes arc produced by some subjects within the single session. Implications of these findings for the concomitance model of autonomic and central nervous system interactions; for single vs multiple training sessions; for the use of paced respiration; and for a learning model of HR control are discussed.
Bilateral Differences in Parietal‐Occipital EEG Induced by Contingent Visual Feedback
Authors: Eberlin Peter , Mulholland Thomas
Published: February 2007

If visual stimulation is made contingent on a unilateral occipital EEG, there is an increase in the control of the alternation between alpha and little or no alpha on the side used to control the visual stimuli as compared to the other side. Previous studies using a visual stimulus for feedback, did not control for the possibility that “feedback” effects might be produced by non‐contingent intermittent stimulation. This experiment was a yoked‐cortex control for intermittent non‐contingent vs intermittent contingent stimulation. The result show that the effects observed are due to contingent stimulation and not merely due to intermittent stimulation.
The Effects of Reward on Occipital Alpha Facilitation by Biofeedback
Authors: Brolund Jay W. , Schallow John R.
Published: February 2007

Eighty male undergraduates were randomly assigned to one of four treatment conditions: an auditory stimulus denoted the presence of alpha in a feedback condition: a backup reinforcement condition received feedback plus a choice of money or extra experimental credit contingent upon increasing alpha 1.5 times baseline levels; a yoked control group received bogus feedback; another control group received no feedback. All groups received 6 4‐min trials of training. Backup reinforcement was clearly more effective in enhancing; alpha than any other treatment condition. In fact, the conventional feedback condition performed no better than a control condition which received no feedback, although both significantly increased alpha over trials. The only group which did not significantly increase alpha was the yoked control condition, whose performance, differed significantly over trials from the other controls. These findings demonstrate the hazard of inferring alpha control from increases above initial baselines, as many studies have done. Moreover, they seem to demonstrate the efficacy of augmenting feedback with additional reinforcement.
Measurement of Electroencephalic Evoked Response: Comparison of Univariate and Multivariate
Authors: Schachter J. , Lachin J. M. , Kerr J. L. , Wimberly F. C.
Published: February 2007

Two univariate peak‐to‐peak measures of electroencephalic average evoked response (AER) were compared with two multivariate measures of AER with respect to: (1) ability to discriminate between stimuli of different intensity; and 2) test‐retest reliability. AER data from 47 sleeping newborns for each of 2 test sessions were utilized to calculate P2‐N2 amplitude,tp2‐n2 (the test statistic which measures the degree to which the P2‐N2 amplitude differed from zero), F1 (a multivariate measure of the degree to which changes in potential differed from zero), and Fjk (a multivariate measure of degree to which changes in potential differed from changes in potential in background EEG).

The multivariate measures were somewhat superior to the univariate measures in the ability to discriminate three stimulus intensities when used as the dependent measure of AER in 47 subjects, though differences between measures were small. At the same time the multivariate measures were somewhat inferior to the univariate measures in retest reliability. There were major discrepancies between the multivariate and univariate measures of AER for some individuals.

Comparison of the two multivariate measures indicates that in these data from sleeping new‐borns, use of background EEG as a baseline reference for the multivariate measure. Fjk, decreased its reliability without enhancing its ability to distinguish stimulus intensities.
A Nonparametric Statistical Evaluation of Changes in Evoked Potentials to Different Stimuli
Authors: Kohn Michael , Lifshitz Kenneth
Published: February 2007

An experiment yielding the evoked electroencephalographic potentials (EPs) to seven different stimuli was conducted on a population of 13 female and 7 male normal subjects. Patterned‐visual, auditory and combined (bimodal) stimuli were used. One stimulus case required subject responses. Calculations of the first four statistical sample moments at the EP time points indicated nongaussian amplitude distributions. A nonparametric statistical test, the Mann‐Whitney (U‐test, was used to den it the significant point (p <.01) differences among the EPs to the visual, auditory and bimodal stimuli. The most extensive differences were obtained from EPs to stimulus pairs requiring subject response (identification). Differences among the EPs to different visual patterns existed to a lesser extent than to stimuli of different sensory modalities. In general, a change in the physical parameter of the stimulus induced changes in the earlier components, while the response requirement induced changes in the late components of the EP. No significant differences were found in EPs to the same stimuli between recording locations with hemispheric symmetry.
Some Interrelations Between the Contingent Negative Variation and the Evoked Potential
Authors: Smith D. B. D.
Published: February 2007

The purpose of this study was to compare the evoked potential (EP) to the “imperative stimulus” (S2) in the contingent negative variation (CNV) paradigm with the EP to a comparable stimulus nut associated with a CNV. Twelve subjects performed a task that required reporting an occasional change in frequency of a tone. In one condition each change was paired with a warning Hash, thus generating a CNV. In another condition tone changes were only occasionally preceded by a flash and no CNV was observed. Three differences were noted in the vertex EP associated with a CNV: 1) all components after approximately 60 msec were shifted in a more positive direction, 2) negative components Nl and N2 were shorter in latency, and 3) negative components N1, N2, and N3 were attenuated in amplitude. Possible interpretations of these results are discussed. Conclusions are drawn concerning the methodological and theoretical importance of this interaction between the CNV and EP.
Interactions of Marijuana and Induced Stress: Forearm Blood Flow, Heart Rate, and Skin Conductance
Authors: Naliboff Bruce D. , Rickles William H. , Cohen Michael J. , Naimark Robert S.
Published: February 2007

To examine the interaction of marijuana and an induced state of stress, on both subjective and physiological measures, two groups of 15 subjects each were given a mental arithmetic task to perform. The sequence of events was 10 min each of pre‐stress, stress, post‐stress, intoxication (about 20 min), pre‐stress, stress, post‐stress. In the intoxication phase, one group smoked marijuana containing 14 mg Δ9‐THC while the other group smoked a placebo. The dependent variables were forearm blood flow (FBF), heart rate (HR). and skin conductance (SC), and a subjective measure of stress–the Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist (MAACL).

The results revealed all physiological variables to be reactive to the stress task. In addition, marijuana intoxication produced reliable increases in both pre‐stress HR and FBF, and yet the physiological response to the post‐intoxication stress period showed no significant decrement when compared In the placebo group. Discussion of these results centered around marijuana's effects on tonic and phasic reactivity.
Alpha Biofeedback: Fact or Artifact?
Authors: Leib Warren , Tryon Warren W. , Stroebel Charles S.
Published: February 2007

Twenty‐two volunteer psychiatric inpatients ranging in age from 16 to 58 participated as subjects. Those subjects with abnormal EEC patterns in the form of grand‐mal seizure activity were administered. All subjects were administered the Rod and Frame Test, Embedded Figures Test, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, and the Autonomic Perception Questionnaire. These variables plus a psychotic‐non‐psychotic dichotic were utilized as predictor variables to identify those subjects most able to control production or alpha. It was found that none of the variables possessed predictive value because no significant between session increases in alpha density were found. However, significant within session effects were found between Alpha‐On vs Alpha‐Off and between Eyes‐Open vs Eyes‐Closed instruction conditions. Significant within session increases in alpha density were also observed over the three Alpha‐On periods by the 11 non‐psychotic subjects during their first training session. These results raise serious question as to whether any learning takes place as a function of alpha biofeedback training. Future research should include between session data analysis in order to convincingly demonstrate the validity of alpha biofeedback training.
An Improved Mechanical Strain Gauge for Recording Penile Circumference Change
Authors: Laws D. R. , Bow R. A.
Published: February 2007

The re‐design of a mechanical strain gauge for recording penile circumference change is described. Basic modifications included doubling the thickness of the spring steel used in the penile ring, the use of larger strain gauges with a greater strain range, and a different method for protecting the gauge assembly. These design changes produced a more robust unit with greater longevity than the original.
Effects of Length of Training and Amount of Tone Frequency Change on Amplitude of Autonomic Components of the Orienting Response
Authors: Sidle David A. T. , Heron Peter A.
Published: February 2007

The present study investigated amplitude of the skin conductance response (SCR), heart rate response (HRR), and linger pulse volume (FPV) response components of the orienting response to a change in lone frequency following habituation training. Experimental subjects received either 5 or 20 presentations of a 1000 Hz, 70 dB training stimulus of 3 sec duration followed by presentation of a test stimulus. Half of these subjects received a test stimulus of 670 Hz (decrease of 250 mels), while for the other half, the test stimulus was a 380 Hz (decrease of 500 mels) tone. Two independent control groups received 6 and 21 presentations of the training stimulus respectively. This resulted in a 3 × 2 factorial design (N = 90). The results indicated that test trial SCR amplitude was significantly larger in experimental groups than in control groups and that larger responses occurred for a change of 500 mels than for one of 250 mels. Experimental groups also displayed significantly larger HRRs than did control groups, but within (he experimental groups, response amplitude was not influenced by amount of change. Length of training had no significant effect on either SCR or HRR amplitude on the test trial. For digital vasoconstriction, experimental groups displayed significantly larger FPV responses than did the control groups only after 2(1 training trials, and response amplitude was not influenced by amount of stimulus change.
Pulse Wave Velocity as a Measure of Blood Pressure Change
Authors: Gribbin Brian , Steptoe Andrew , Sleight Peter
Published: February 2007

The use of arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) as a continuous measure of blood pressure changes is outlined. Theoretical considerations indicate that changes in PWV reflect changes in blood pressure, and an experiment was carried out to assess this relationship. PWV along an arm artery was monitored in 26 subjects at a time when the arterial distending pressure of the limb was altered over a wide range by means of externally applied positive and negative pressures. The results show that changes in PWV reliably follow changes in blood pressure. This method can be considered suitable for studies requiring changes rather than absolute values of blood pressure.
Electrocardiographic Registration of Sweating During Routine Monitoring
Authors: Molnar George W.
Published: February 2007

The registration of submaximal sweating during routine physiological monitoring can be conveniently obtained as undulations of the baseline of the electrocardiogram (ECG) recorded on a slow chart (1 mm/sec). The component ECG waves ride the baseline waves with minimal distortion, as demonstrated by short recordings at faster chart speeds. The undulations are not caused by fluctuations in blood flow, as proved by their persistence during tourniqueting of the limbs proximal to the electrodes. During profuse sweating the undulations diminish and even disappear, presumably because the sweat ducts and corneum are saturated and further changes in skin resistance and potential are too small for detection.
Apparatus and Procedure for Training Subjects to Control Their Blood Pressure
Authors: Elder S. Thomas , Longacre Andrew , Welsh Darleen M. , McAfee Robert D.
Published: February 2007

The purpose of this study was to devise a set of apparatus and procedures for treating the blood pressure response as a free operant. The system described herein developed out of an effort to combine some features of the Harvard and Rockefeller methods into a compact and inexpensive unit that could be transported easily and eventually adapted for home use. Application of the device requires fitting the subject with a standard cuff on each arm and inflating first one and then the other for intervals of 100 sec. The systolic or diastolic blood pressure threshold is tracked by readjusting cuff pressure every 3–4 heartbeats in order to hold the intensity of the Korotkoff sounds constant. A record of blood pressure is obtained by transducing and tracing moment‐to‐moment changes in cuff pressure on a strip chart recorder. Scores provided by this method and those obtained with the classical Riva‐Rocci procedure were found to be highly correlated.