bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physiological Detection of Deception: Measurement of Responses to Questions and Answers During Countermeasure Maneuvers
Authors: Dawson Michael E.
Published: February 2007

Physiological detection of deception (“lie detection”) procedures were evaluated with 24 actors, half of whom were “guilty” of a mock‐crime and half were “innocent.” All subjects were trained in the Stanislavsky method of acting and were instructed to use this method to appear innocent on the polygraph test. Two versions of the control question detection of deception test were employed: one in which subjects verbally answered immediately following each question and the other in which they delayed their verbal answer for 8 sec following each question. The delayed answer technique allowed the separate measurement of physiological responses to the questions and the answers. Skin resistance responses, cardiovascular changes, and respiration were recorded and analyzed. Excluding inconclusive results, the overall accuracy of the decisions varied between 78% and 91% depending on the test employed. The principal results were: 1) attempts by guilty subjects to appear innocent were totally ineffective, 2) physiological responses elicited by the questions were more valid indicators of deception and nondeception than were the responses elicited by the verbal answers, and 3) errors occurred more frequently with innocent subjects (between 17% and 25% depending on the measure used) than with guilty subjects (0% with each measure). Variables which may affect the generalizability of these results to the field situation are discussed and suggestions for increasing the generalizability of laboratory findings are made.
Effects of Types of Challenge on Pressor and Heart Rate Responses in Type A and B Women
Authors: MacDougall James M. , Dembroski Theodore M. , Krantz David S.
Published: February 2007

Two studies examined the blood pressure and heart rate responses of female college students categorized as Type A or B according to the Rosenman and Friedman structured interview technique. In Study I, unlike male college students, the interview‐defined Types did not differ significantly in physiological response to either a cold pressor test or reaction time task under instructional conditions that emphasized the difficulty of the tasks. Consistent with data from male subjects, however, interview ratings of potential for hostility were found for both Types to correlate positively with changes in systolic blood pressure and heart rate for the reaction time task. In Study II, Type A women compared with Type Bs did show greater increases in systolic blood pressure during the structured interview and in the course of a challenging American history quiz, but as in Study I, not in a high‐incentive reaction time task. These results suggest that under some conditions (e.g., moderately challenging interpersonal exchanges) women evidencing the Type A pattern may show larger hemodynamic responses than Type Bs, but important differences may exist between the sexes in the types of situations which evoke such responses.
Skin Conductance Responses in Huntington's Chorea Progeny
Authors: Lawson Evenina A.
Published: February 2007

To test the assumption that limbic dysfunctioning in Huntington's Chorea (HC) would be reflected in abnormal skin conductance responses, 25 patients were examined.Only 2 of these patient showed normal skin conductance response. A further sample of 52 first generation, asymptomatic offspring of diagnosed HC patentes were tested. Seventeen of the at‐risk subject were non‐responders compared with 2 non‐responders in the control sample of 26 subjects. The finding could be interpreted to favor the hypothesis that the presence of the pathogenic gene is correlated with electrodermal non‐responding.
Surprise!… Surprise?
Authors: Donchin Emanuel
Published: February 2007

The nature of the psychophysiological enterprise is examined as it bears on the study of the endogenous components of event‐related brain potentials (ERP). The view is taken that success in Psychophysiology should be measured by the degree to which psychophysiological data can be used in elucidating the processes that underly the behavioral product rather than by the enumeration of psychophysiological “correlates” of behavior. It is proposed that endogenous ERP components are best viewed as manifestations of the activities of “subroutines” invoked during the informational transactions of the brain.

A theoretical account of an ERP component consists of the specification of the functional role of the subroutine it manifests. Studies of the P300 components are examined for the contribution they make to the development of such a theory of the P300. Experiments focusing on P300 latency and amplitude are reviewed and it is concluded that P300 may be a manifestation of the processes whereby schemas are revised. The relationship between P300 and the Orienting Reflex is discussed within the framework of this model. It is suggested that P300 amplitude may predict the memorability of events. A preliminary test of this prediction is described.
Cortical Augmenting‐Reducing — Modality Specific?
Authors: Raine Adrian , Mitchell David A. , Venables Peter H.
Published: February 2007

The assumption that cortical augmenting‐reducing is independent of stimulus modality was tested by presenting both auditory and visual stimuli to 42 subjects. Cross‐modal correlations for P1N1 and N1P2 slope measures were negligible and nonsignificant. They remained insignificant using a measure independent of overall responsivity, after exclusion of “inconsistent” slope values, after equating for relative stimulus intensity, and after data transformations. No evidence was found for overall reducing in the auditory modality, although “paradoxical” reducing was observed over low intensity levels. Slopes derived from this reducing range did not correlate with visual slopes. Visual reducing was not found to be an artifact of selective EP latency jitter or scatter of the data points, but was found to correlate with confidence ratings of peak‐trough identification. These results suggest that cortical reducing is modality‐specific and is not mediated by a generalized, central inhibitory mechanism but by independent, sensory‐specific pathways. Implications were drawn for both the neuroanatomical basis of cortical augmenting‐reducing and its application in psychopathology.
Spontaneous Electrodermal Activity During Sleep and Waking in Cats
Authors: Baqué Esteve Freixa i , Delerm Bernard , Roy Jean‐Claude
Published: February 2007

This study examined the relationship between spontaneous skin potential responses (SSPRs) and the stages of sleep and waking in freely moving cats. Five adult cats were observed during 6 sleeping sessions of several hours each, permitting the analysis of several cycles of sleep in each session. Results showed a significant decrease in SSPR frequency through the different stages of vigilance, from waking, through drowsiness and slow wave sleep, to paradoxical sleep. During this last stage, spontaneous electrodermal activity was strongly reduced and few SSPRs appeared in bursts on a background of electrodermal silence. These results are discussed in relation to the known variations in spontaneous electrodermal activity in humans during sleep and in relation to the variations in some other physiological parameters during sleep.
Tracking‐Cuff System for Beat‐to‐Beat Recording of Blood Pressure
Authors: Shapiro David , Greenstadt Lisa , Lane James D. , Rubinstein Eduardo
Published: February 2007

A system is described for the automatic beat‐to‐beat tracking of blood pressure (BP) based on the detection of Korotkoff sounds. Upon each detection, a discrete adjustment in cuff pressure is made prior to the next cardiac cycle. In comparison with other continuous tracking systems, digital control allows for estimation of systolic BP based on precise knowledge of cuff pressure at each heart beat. Simultaneous recordings of intra‐arterial pressure (radial artery) and systolic pressure measured with the tracking system were made in 4 subjects during 1‐min trials of resting, paced respiration, and mental arithmetic. Correlations of the paired measures of intra‐arterial and cuff pressure for 27 trials varied from .46 to .90 (median = .72). The standard error of estimate of intra‐arterial systolic BP varied from 1.8 to 6.3 mmHg (median = 3.6). The system can be used without discomfort to track systolic BP for 60 and 120 sec in experiments involving repeated cuff inflations. Critical features and advantages of the tracking‐cuff system for blood pressure measurement and biofeedback are discussed.
Publication Guidelines for Heart Rate Studies in Man
Authors: Jennings J. Richard , Bberg W. Keith , Hutcheson J. Stanford , Obrist Paul , Porges Stephen , Turpin Graham
Published: February 2007

Publication guidelines are provided for the collection, quantification, and analysis of heart rate data.
Accuracy Demonstrations, Threat, and the Detection of Deception: Cardiovascular, Electrodermal, and Pupillary Measures
Authors: Bradley M. T. , Janisse Michel Pierre
Published: February 2007

Subjects, half of whom committed a mock crime, were examined with both Control Question and Guilty Knowledge tests in an attempt to detect guilt or innocence. Skin resistance, heart rate, and pupil size were the physiological measures employed. Prior to the polygraph test the effectiveness of the physiological detection apparatus was demonstrated to each suhject. They were led to helieve they had been detected in either none, one, two or three of three trials in this demonstration. Subsequent detectability of subjects varied as a result of the manipulation with the Control Question test such that detectability increased as the level of demonstrated effectiveness increased. Results with the Guilty Knowiedge test were less clear. Another manipulation, threat of punishment, did not affect detection results but did alter heart rate change such that those threatened, whether guilty or innocent, received rank scores more in the guilt)’direction than those not threatened. Skin resistance was the most efficacious measure in both tests while pupil and heart measures varied in detection accuracy depending on the test employed.
Parental Hypertension and Cardiovascular Response to Stress in Healthy Young Adults
Authors: Hastrup Janice L. , Light Kathleen C. , Obrist Paul A.
Published: February 2007

One indicator of elevated risk for subsequent development of essential hypertension is the presence of the disorder in either or both parents. Exaggerated cardiovascular responsivity to stress has also been suggested as a possible precursor to hypertension. This study examined the relationship between parental hypertension and the heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels of 103 healthy college‐age men, during two resting conditions and stressful cold pressor and reaction time tasks. Sons of hypertensive parents (N = 25) showed higher HR and SBP than sons of normotensive parents (N = 78) during both rest and stress, but these differences were greatest during the stressful reaction time (RT) task. No reliable differences in DBP were seen. A subsample of 45 subjects, including 14 with hypertensive parents, were also monitored during a second stress, the cold pressor test; only trends toward HR or BP differences related to parental hypertension were seen for this stress, although HR and SBP differences during the RT task were still significant (p<.05) even in this smaller group. Since the incidence of high blood pressure is known to be greater among the offspring of hypertensive parents, these findings suggest that cardiovascular responses to certain types of stress (e.g., active coping tasks) may help predict future risk of hypertension.
P300 and Slow Wave in a Message Consisting of Two Events
Authors: Ruchkin Daniel S. , Munson Robert , Sutton Samuel
Published: February 2007

This study is concerned with P300 and Slow Wave in an experimental paradigm in which information is transmitted by a combination of two successive events (a ‘message’). Each event delivered essential information for understanding the message, but the meaning of the message could not be determined until occurrence of the second event. The amount of information in each event was varied by varying its perceptual difficulty. Increasing perceptual difficulty causes an information loss, termed equivocation.

A positive Slow Wave was elicited by both events. Slow wave was clearly increased in amplitude by equivocation in the eliciting event, and less clearly increased in amplitude by equivocation in the other event. The first event elicited a small P290 component. It could not be determined whether this component corresponded to P300. The second event elicited a large P300. This component was much reduced in amplitude by equivocation in the second event, but was only moderately reduced in amplitude by equivocation in the first event.
Individual Differences in Heartbeat Discrimination
Authors: Katkin Edward S. , Morell Marie A. , Goldband Steve , Bernstein Gary L. , Wise Jeffrey A.
Published: February 2007

In this experiment 41 subjects were trained to discriminate their own heartbeats and to discriminate an external signal. The subjects were divided into electrodermally labile and stabile subgroups. An important feature of the experiment was the development of a new procedure for assessing heartbeat discrimination, using signal detection theory methods. The results confirmed prior findings that subjects are unable to discriminate their own heartbeats without training, but that they can team such discrimination. It was also found that electrodermally labile subjects learned the heartbeat discrimination but electrodermally stabile subjects did not.
Measurement of Neonatal Blood Pressure: A New Method
Authors: Hall Pamela Sue , Thomas Sue Ann , Friedmann Erica , Lynch James J.
Published: February 2007

Psychophysiological research on the neonatal cardiac system has focused almost exclusively on heart rate. Other cardiovascular parameters such as blood pressure (BP) have been difficult, if not impossible, to examine in the newborn due to the difficulty involved in measurement. This study tested a new, non‐invasive device that simultaneously measured systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BP and heart rate in the newborn. Eighty healthy babies’ BP and heart rate were measured for the first 3 days of life and the findings were compared with previous reports in the literature. BP was found to increase on each of the first 3 days of life while mean heart rate did not change during this period. State of alertness significantly affected BP and heart rate, with sucking leading to the greatest rise in BP, while crying elicited the highest heart rates. The results indicated that this new non‐invasive technology provides an important advance that has considerable bearing on future studies of neonatal psychophysiology.
Motivation and Skin Temperature Biofeedback: Yerkes‐Dodson Revisited
Authors: Bregman Norman J. , McAllister Hunter A.
Published: February 2007

The purpose of the present experiment was to explore the relationship between motivation and task difficulty during temperature biofeedback. A 2 (task difficulty: suggestion vs no‐suggestion) × 3 (motivation: 0¢ vs 25¢ vs 50¢) design was employed. It was hypothesized that a curvilinear function would be obtained in the suggestion groups following the Yerkes‐Dodson law for moderately difficult tasks. Forty‐seven subjects were randomly assigned to the six experimental conditions and were trained to increase their finger temperature. Motivation was manipulated by paying subjects, 0, 25, or 50¢ for every. 1 °F they increased their ringer temperature over baseline for 3 days. As predicted, the results are quite compatible with the Yerkes‐Dodson law and help to clear up previous inconsistencies in the literature. A potentially important clinical implication of the above findings is that it may be to a patient's advantage to reduce his/her level of motivation for maximum results.
Cardiac Output and Blood Flow Distribution during Rest and Classical Aversive Conditioning in Monkey
Authors: Randall David C. , Cottrill Carol M. , Todd Edward P. , Price Margaret A. , Wachtel Claire C.
Published: February 2007

Cardiac output was measured by dye dilution in rhesus monkeys (n = 9) during rest and classical aversive conditioning. A 1‐ min tone (followed by unavoidable electric shock) served as the conditional stimulus (CS +). Cardiac output was determined at approximately 30 sec before and after onset of CS +. Conditional increases in mean blood pressure (78± 11 to 84±11 mmHg. average±SD) and heart rate (145±23 to 166 ± 31/min) were associated with a significant (p<.01) increase in cardiac output (1.32 ± .25 to 1.69±.51 L/min) and decrease in total peripheral resistance (60.8 ± 13.7 to 53.1 ± 14.8 mmHg/L/min). There were no significant changes in these variables during a different tone (CS‐) which was never followed by shock. Infusion of radio‐labeled microspheres (5 monkeys) at 25‐30 sec after CS + onset revealed a conditional increase (vs resting control) in flow to the diaphragm and certain other skeletal muscle; myocardial blood flow was not increased at this time. Flow decreased to the kidney, liver and pancreas. Elimination of the conditional increase in blood How to skeletal muscle following administration of propranolol (3 monkeys) suggests that the redistribution of cardiac output during “stress” may involve an active adrenergic vasodilation in the non‐human primate.
A Reply to Kotses and Glaus
Authors: O'Connell Michael F. , Yeaton Susan P.
Published: February 2007

In rejoinder to Kotses and Glaus' critique of O'Connell and Yeaton (1981), several points of disagreement are discussed. These include the relationship between covariation and response generalization and the limitations of an operant conceptualization of EMG relaxation training.
Novelty and Significance Effects in the Fractionation of Phasic OR Measures: A Synthesis with Traditional OR Theory
Authors: Barry Robert J.
Published: February 2007

The unitary Orienting Response (OR) concept developed by E.N. Sokolov has been interpreted as requiring the covariation of a range of physiological indicators in response to manipulation of stimulus intensity, novelty and significance. After failing to find such a covariation, Barry (1979) proposed a four‐way fractionation of response indicators as an alternative to unitary OR theory. This fractionation was explored here in two experiments involving manipulation of novelty and significance. These confirmed the predicted fractionation and clarified the role of electrodermal responses relative to traditional OR theory. It was then proposed that this fractionation of responses reflected preliminary processes in OR elicitation, allowing a synthesis of Barry's response fractionation and Sokolov's traditional OR. The possible role of Maltzman's cortical set theory’ in such a synthesis was outlined.
Cardiovascular Changes During Classical Conditioning in the Squirrel Monkey
Authors: Hansen Timothy R. , Herd J. Alan
Published: February 2007

Changes in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were classically conditioned in squirrel monkeys using light as the conditional stimulus, and electric shock as the unconditional stimulus. The transient (lasting less than 5 min) and sustained (maintained for a half‐hour or more) changes in BP and HR in response to light‐shock (LS) pairs and light alone (L) were measured while varying rates of presentation and shock intensity. LS presentation produced transient increases in both BP and HR. The magnitude of the change increased with shock intensity and decreased as stimulation rate increased. Transient changes in BP and HR in response to L presentation were induced by conditioning with LS. The conditioned transient response to L alone was greater when the LS conditioning period preceding it had greater shock intensity or slower presentation rate. Sustained changes in BP and HR were also produced by LS, the magnitude of which were directly related to the frequency of aversive stimulus presentation. Transient changes, in contrast, decreased in magnitude with more frequent presentation.
External Anal Sphincter Response to Rectal Distention: Learned Response or Reflex
Authors: Whitehead William E. , Orr William C. , Engel Bernard T. , Schuster Marvin M.
Published: February 2007

Three experiments were conducted to determine whether the external anal sphincter contraction which typically follows rectal distention is a reflex or a voluntary response. Experiment I compared 15 chronically constipated patients to 10 normal subjects. A reflex should be reliably elicited by its unconditional stimulus; but if this response is voluntary, chronically constipated patients would be less likely to show it because they have had fewer opportunities to practice it. Only half of chronically constipated patients showed the response compared to 100% of normals. Experiment II investigated whether the response is elicited by rectal distention during sleep in 10 healthy subjects. The response was significantly less likely to occur during sleep. Experiment III in 6 normal subjects revealed that this response can be voluntarily omitted. These experiments indicate that external anal sphincter contraction following rectal distention is a voluntary response, not a reflex.
Patterns of Feedback EEG Responsivity and Control in Depressed Patients
Authors: Danesino Angelo , Mclaughlin Thomas , Burke William , Schneck Paul
Published: February 2007

Habituation of the alpha‐blocking component of the orienting response (OR) was evaluated in depressed patients and normals. The method of feedback electroencephalography was used to elicit and control the OR.

It was predicted that the depressed patients would show reduced initial ORs to visual stimuli compared to normals. The response of the patients to emotional verbal stimuli (related to their conflicts) was predicted to be more variable than the response to non‐conflict words, compared to normals.

The results indicated that depressed patients are less responsive than normals for the initial few presentations of visual stimuli. The hypothesis about greater response variability by depressives to emotionally significant words was partially confirmed, i.e., the response variability was increased for one of the two verbal stimuli. The study demonstrated that feedback EEG experiments and clinical assessments can be reliably carried out in a non‐laboratory setting.
Estimation of Half From Quarter Recovery Time of SCR
Authors: Fletcher R. P. , Venables P. H. , Mitchell D. A.
Published: February 2007

In many cases where SCR half‐recovery time cannot be measured because of post‐peak activity, quarter‐recovery time is measurable. Prediction of half from quarter recovery times is examined and the calculation of loge t/2 values for loge t/4 values is recommended.
Brain Event‐Related Potentials as Indicators of Early Selective Processes in Auditory Target Localization
Authors: McCallum W. C. , Curry S. H. , Pocock P. V. , Papakostopoulos D.
Published: February 2007

To establish the stages of brain processing in an auditory stimulus localization task, event‐related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 24 normal subjects listening to brief white noise stimuli in a free‐field situation from front, back, left and right loudspeakers. The subject's task was to respond to ‘target’ stimuli from one designated speaker. Performance varied as a function of sound location, stimuli in the front/back dimension being more difficult to localize than those in the left/right. ERP results, based on averaged waveforms, difference waveforms and the factors derived from a principal components analysis, revealed a series of task related components. Some were relatively transient, others more sustained in character. One brain component showed task related amplitude changes with an onset as early as 15 msec. These changes were target specific for sounds in the easier left/right dimension only. Later components, such as the P300, also varied in amplitude between targets and non‐targets, but showed no significant amplitude or latency differences to target stimuli as a function of location, despite the significant performance differences.
Eyeblinking During Problem Solving: The Effect of Problem Difficulty and Internally vs Externally Directed Attention
Authors: Wood James G. , Hassett James
Published: February 2007

This study examined the eyeblink rate during non‐visual problem solving. A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design compared eyeblink rates for easy and difficult problems, internally and externally directed attention, and numerical and alphabetical tasks. The major finding was a higher eyeblink rate for difficult problems. There was also a significant interaction between difficulty and the direction of attention; internally directed attention yielded higher blink rates only during the solution of easy problems. Range‐corrected data yielded the same pattern of results, but F‐values were consistently higher and accounted for a larger proportion of the variance.
Aortic‐Radial Pulse Transit Time and ECG Q‐Wave to Radial Pulse Wave Interval as Indices of Beat‐By‐Beat Blood Pressure Change
Authors: Pollak Michael H. , Obrist Paul A.
Published: February 2007

This study examined beat‐by‐beat relationships between blood pressure, the time interval from the ECG Q‐wave to the radial pulse wave (QRPI), and its two components, the cardiac pre‐ejection period (PEP) and aortic‐radial arterial pulse transit time (AR‐PTT). In 8 subjects, intra‐arterial systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, QRPI, PEP, and AR‐PTT were measured during rest, mental arithmetic, cold pressor, and inhalation of amyl nitrite. Both PEP and AR‐PTT varied widely during each experimental condition indicating that QRPI change reflected both PEP and AR‐PTT change. AR‐PTT varied inversely with SBP and DBP; PEP sometimes varied directly and sometimes inversely with both SBP and DBP. QRPI varied inversely with both SBP and DBP with the magnitude of the correlation in a particular instance depending on the relationships for that instance between blood pressure and both PEP and AR‐PTT. Implications of the results for the use of either QRPI or AR‐PTT as indices of blood pressure change are discussed.
Effects of Task Incentive on Cardiovascular Response in Type A and Type B Individuals
Authors: Blumenthal James A. , Lane James D. , Williams Redford B. , McKee Daphne C. , Haney Thomas , White Alice
Published: February 2007

An experiment was conducted to investigate the interaction of task incentive and the Type A behavior pattern in determining psychomotor performance and psychophysiological responses during a verbal problem solving task. Twenty‐four Type A and 17 Type B subjects as determined by the structured interview were randomly assigned to a Monetary Incentive condition or a Non‐incentive Control condition. Results indicated that the presence or absence of explicit incentives affected task performance for Type As but not for Type Bs. Type As gave more responses more quickly when offered monetary reward. In contrast, the effects of incentive on cardiovascular responses were observed in Type B subjects but not Type As. Type As showed increased systolic blood pressure and heart rate and skeletal muscle vasodilatation in both conditions, while Type Bs showed increased heart rate and systolic blood pressure only when incentives were offered. Type Bs in the Control condition did not change significantly from baseline and actually tended to respond with a deceleration of heart rate and skeletal muscle vasoconstriction. The results are discussed in terms of the need to consider both the interaction of Type A with the nature of the task and the pattern of cardiovascular responses in future studies of psychophysiologic differences between Type A and Type B individuals.
Sympathetic Neuronal Function and Left Ventricular Performance During Behavioral Stress in Humans: The Relationship between Plasma Catecholamines and Systolic Time Intervals
Authors: McCubbin James A. , Richardson James E. , Langer Alan W. , Kizer John S. , Obrist Paul A.
Published: February 2007

We studied the relationship between sympathetic neuronal function and left ventricular performance during stress in humans by analysis of endogenous catecholamine levels and systolic time intervals. The results showed that performance on a stressful cognitive task was accompanied by changes in plasma catecholamines, heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and systolic time intervals. The cardiovascular responses were significantly correlated with plasma levels of epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE). The relationship between plasma catecholamines and systolic time intervals is thought to reflect sympatho‐adrenomedullary impact on left ventricular performance during stress.
Vascular Unloading Method for Noninvasive Measurement of Instantaneous Arterial Pressure: Applicability in Psychophysiological Research
Authors: Sawada Yukihiro , Yamakoshi Ken‐ichi , Shimazu Hideaki
Published: February 2007

A new method proposed previously by us (1980) was described to evaluate its applicability in psychophysiological research. In this method, beat‐to‐beat systolic and diastolic pressure as well as the pressure waveform can be measured noninvasively in the human finger. By use of a hydraulicservosystem, the photoplethysmographically detected vascular volume changes associated with intraarterial pressure in the finger are compensated by an applied counterpressure (cuff pressure) to maintain a proper value corresponding to the unloaded vascular volume. At this state the controlled cuff pressure follows instantaneously the intraarterial pressure. Comparison data were obtained by direct measurement of blood pressure in the brachial artery in 3 normotensive and 3 hypertensive subjects. High correlations between the two measures were obtained in each subject under various conditions. By maintaining circulation in the finger, this method enables the noninvasive and continuous measurement of instantaneous arterial pressure for more than one hour without much discomfort. This indirect method should be useful in many areas of psychophysiological research.
Forty Hertz EEC Activity in Alzheimer's Type Dementia
Authors: Spydell John D. , Sheer Daniel E.
Published: February 2007

EEG activity within the 40 Hz band was monitored during several tasks and during a non‐task condition. Twelve right‐handed subjects diagnosed as having Alzheimer's type dementia were studied. Results from this group were compared to a group of neurologically normal subjects of comparable age and IQ. Results show that while the normal group exhibited appropriate increases in 40 Hz activity during problem solving, the Alzheimer's type dementia group did not. In addition, the task appropriate lateralization of 40 Hz activity seen in the normal group was absent in the Alzheimer's type dementia group.
Individual Differences in Imagery Ability and Pavlovian Heart Rate Decelerative Conditioning
Authors: Arabian Jane M. , Furedy John J.
Published: February 2007

The purpose of the present experiment was to investigate the role of imagery ability in Pavlovian HR decelerative conditioning with a head‐up to head‐down body tilt as the US. From imagery theories of conditioning (e.g., King, 1973), it was hypothesized that the CR of subjects with good imagery abilities should be more similar to the UR than the CR of subjects with poor imagery abilities. The Betts QMI was used to select 32 subjects for their imagery ability. All subjects were treated identically during the course of the experimental session. Following 10 CS‐US acquisition trials, the HR CR was assessed on a second‐by‐second basis during 9 CS‐alone test trials. The data provided support for the hypothesis: the form of the CR was significantly different for the two groups. The CR of the good imagers remained below baseline for 10 sec (the duration of the actual tilt‐US) while the CR of poor imagers returned to baseline within that period although the average magnitude of the CR for good and poor imagers did not differ. Implications of these data for human Pavlovian HR conditioning and applied (e.g., desensitization) psychophysiological research are discussed.
Laterality, Emotionality, and Heartbeat Perception
Authors: Montgomery William A. , Jones Gary E.
Published: February 2007

Recent research on visceral perception has indicated that hemispheric specialization and emotionality may account for individual differences among subjects. The present study was designed to examine the nature of the relationship between hemispheric specialization and emotionality, and the manner in which these variables influence individual differences in visceral perception (i.e., detection of cardiac activity). Male subjects were given 20 questions used to test lateral eye movements. Following the completion of the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Form X‐1 (State Anxiety), cardiac awareness was assessed using the Whitehead heartbeat discrimination procedure. Subjects then completed the STAI, Form X‐2 (Trait Anxiety), and the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Results indicated that good heartbeat perceivers made significantly more left lateral eye movements (i.e., right hemisphere preferent) than poor perceivers on any of the emotional indicators. It was found, however, that subjects with high scores on two of the three emotional indicators made significantly more left lateral eye movements than subjects with low scores. Additional analyses indicate that respiration rate and subject obesity may affect the ability to detect feedback of cardiovascular function.
Intensity and Task Effects on Evoked Physiological Responses to Noise Bursts
Authors: Roth Walton T. , Dorato Karen H. , Kopell Bert S.
Published: February 2007

To compare the sensitivity of a variety of psychophysiological variables to stimulus intensity and attention parameters, we simultaneously recorded EEG, eyeblink, skin conductance, and heart rate responses. Twelve subjects were presented with 50‐ms, abrupt onset, white noise bursts of four intensities: 65, 80, 95 and 110 dB SPL. Nineteen stimuli of each intensity were given in random order with ISIs between 12 and 17 seconds. This paradigm was repeated under three randomly ordered task conditions: simple reaction time to the noise bursts, passive sitting, and visual tracking.

Response components were evaluated by Principal Components Analysis and peak measurement. Several factors and peaks increased with intensity, including those representing P300 and the Slow Wave. Task also had marked effects on certain components. SCR amplitude decreased rapidly over time, while the amplitudes of P300 and other event‐related potentials did not.

The findings do not allow the late positive event‐related potential components to be classified unambiguously as orienting, defense, or startle responses. Cognitive theories of these components have little predictive power for the observed intensity effects.
The Perceptual Uncertainty of Having Slept: The Inability to Discriminate Electroencephalographic Sleep From Wakefulness
Authors: Sewitch Deborah E.
Published: February 2007

Stage 2 sleep is often used as the objective marker of “true” sleep. Yet, throughout the polygraphic era of sleep research, there have been incidental literature reports on the discrepancy between verbal reports of prior behavioral state and the polygraphic recordings of prior behavioral state. Two experiments used a Signal Detection Theory (SDT) framework to systematically assess the extent of this verbal report polygraphic discrepancy in 11 subjects (aged 20‐35) with no sleep‐wake complaints or demonstrable sleep‐wake pathologies. The present work used a 6‐point rating scale with the polygraphic wake state designated as the “Signal” and the polygraphic sleep state (Stage 2 and REM sleep) designated as the “Noise” or blank. The ability to differentiate between polygraphic sleep and wakefulness differed by sleep stage with the discrimination significantly less when arousal came out of Stage 2 sleep rather than out of REM sleep. There was a high false alarm rate out of both polygraphic sleep stage 2 and REM but it was significantly higher out of Stage 2. A priori instruction set and limited performance feedback differentially and significantly affected discrimination and bias by sleep stage. The neuro‐ and psychophysiological implications of this work are discussed in the context of current definitions of the sleep state and characterization of the insomnias.
Aerobic Fitness Affects Cardiovascular and Catecholamine Responses to Stressors
Authors: Hull Elaine M. , Young Stephen H. , Ziegler Michael G.
Published: February 2007

Subjects of varying degrees of aerobic fitness were subjected to four laboratory stressors in a test of the hypothesis that aerobic fitness is associated with decreased responsiveness to stressors other than exercise. Blood pressure, heart rate, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and psychological responses to a film of industrial accidents (passive psychological stressor), the Stroop word color task (active psychological stressor), the cold pressor test (passive physical stressor), and running to exhaustion on a treadmill (active physical stressor) were measured. Baseline systolic blood pressure and relative diastolic responses to the film, Stroop task, and exercise were smaller in fit subjects over 40 than in less fit subjects of the same age group. Heart rates were lower in fit subjects at most times, except during and after maximal exercise. Norepinephrine was lower after 9 min of exercise in fit subjects, but was much higher at exhaustion, after these subjects had accomplished more work. Norepinephrine levels fell rapidly and were not different among groups 3 and 10 min after exercise. There was no preferential generalization of the “fitness effect” to the active psychological task.
Neurocognitive Pattern Analysis of a Visuospatial Task: Rapidly‐Shifting Foci of Evoked Correlations Between Electrodes
Authors: Gevins Alan S. , Doyle Joseph C. , Cutillo Brian A. , Schaffer Robert E. , Tannehill Robert S. , Bressler Steven L.
Published: February 2007

Spatial patterns of correlation between pairs of electrodes in 15 channels of human scalp‐recorded brain potentials were determined by applying Neurocognitive Pattern (NCP) Analysis to single‐trial EEG data from 9 adults performing a visuospatial task. Spatial patterns of difference in inter‐electrode correlation between “move” and “no‐move’ trials of the task increased in magnitude through four successive 175‐ms wide analysis intervals. Just before stimulus onset, correlations of the midline frontal electrode with lateral central, parietal, and temporal electrodes distinguished the tasks (p<.01). In the interval spanning the N1, P2, and N2 averaged event‐related potential (ERP) peaks, the between‐task contrast was focused at the midline parietal electrode (p<.001), involving correlations of that electrode with temporal, precentral, and frontal electrodes. In the interval centered on the P3a peak, the major focus of difference was at the right parietal electrode, with higher correlation of the right parietal with midline occipital and precentral electrodes in the no‐move task, and with the right central electrode in the move task (p<5 × 10‐5). In the final interval 135 ms later, which included right‐handed response preparation and initiation, the major focus of contrast shifted to the left central electrode, with higher correlation of that electrode with midline frontal and occipital electrodes in the move task, and with the midline parietal electrode in the no‐move task (p<5 × 10‐6). These results are consistent with a distributed network model of neurocognitive function where parallel activity in many neural areas is integrated in a rapidly shifting pattern of focal activity.
Physiological and Subjective Reactions to Being Touched
Authors: Drescher Vincent M. , Whitehead William E. , Morrill‐Corbin E. Darcie , Cataldo Michael F.
Published: February 2007

The physiological and subjective effects of being touched on the wrist by another person were investigated in 20 normal adults at rest and during immersion of the hand in ice water. Touching reliably reduced heart rate compared to an immediately preceding baseline and compared to an alpha biofeedback condition. Heart rate during painful ice water stimulation was also lower when the subject was touched as compared to when he/she practiced alpha biofeedback, but this effect was not mediated by a reduction in the perceived painfulness of the ice water. Instead, touching and pain had independent, additive effects on heart rate. Touching did not produce generalized reductions in respiratory rate, SRR frequency, or frontalis EMG activity, although subjects did rate being touched as more pleasant and more relaxing than practicing alpha.
Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia Predicts Heart Rate and Visual Responses during Visual Attention in 14 and 20 Week Old Infants
Authors: Richards John E.
Published: February 2007

The prediction of cardiac attentional responses by respiratory sinus arrhythmia was tested in infants at 14 and at 20 weeks of age. Heart rate, heart rate variability, and respiratory sinus arrhythmia were measured in a 5‐min baseline period. Respiration and heart rate responses were recorded during the habituation of infant visual attention. The level of respiratory sinus arrhythmia in the baseline was significantly correlated with the cardiac deceleration, especially in the 20‐week‐old infants. The relationship between cardiac and respiratory responses during attention was stronger in the 20‐week‐olds, paralleling the increase in respiratory sinus arrhythmia at this age. Visual fixation durations were also significantly correlated with measures of heart rate variability from the baseline. These results imply that cardiac variability not only predicts the level of cardiac attentional responsivity, but may be useful in the indexing of individual differences in the responsivity of more general attentional systems.
Description of Heart‐Rate Variability Data in Accordance With a Physiological Model for the Genesis of Heartbeats
Authors: de Boer Roel W. , Karemaker John M. , Strackee Jan
Published: February 2007

A survey is presented of techniques which transform heart‐rate variability data into a signal that is both visually informative and accessible for analysis. The Instantaneous Heart‐Rate (IHR) signal is introduced, i.e. the signal having the value of the heart rate (inverse interbeat interval) during the interval concerned. The IHR signal differs from the standard Delayed Heart‐Rate (DHR) signal, which is always one beat late. The relationship is discussed between the different representation methods and the Integral Pulse Frequency Modulation (IPFM) model, the latter being a physiologically plausible model for the transformation of a continuous input signal (e.g., nervous influence on the cardiac pacemaker) into a series of events (heartbeats). It is shown that when the IHR signal is used as input of the IPFM model, the event series from which the signal was derived appears at the output. Hence, if the IPFM model is accepted as a model of the pacemaker, the IHR signal may be considered as an approximation of the neural (sympathetic and parasympathetic) influence on the pacemaker. In addition we show that the appearance of the IHR signal is less affected by trigger errors or extrasystoles than the standard DHR signal. It is concluded that the most attractive time‐domain representation of physiological event series consists of the IHR signal, because this signal, being conceptually and computationally simple, is consistent with the IPFM model.
Comparison of the Effectiveness of Biofeedback and Relaxation Training on Hand Warming
Authors: Kluger Martin A. , Jamner Larry D. , Tursky Bernard
Published: February 2007

Finger pulse volume (FPV) biofeedback, relaxation training (RT), and finger temperature (FT) biofeedback were compared for their effectiveness in the alteration of hand temperature (HT). It was hypothesized that the use of FPV, a more direct measure of peripheral blood flow, should be more effective in producing hand warming than the demonstrably latent FT or the less direct RT manipulation. No significant difference in HT alteration was found between the two biofeedback training groups and neither the finger temperature nor finger pulse volume biofeedback groups were more successful than the relaxation training group in the alteration of HT. No significant differences were found in the alteration of FPV among the three groups. A major finding of this study indicates that all groups produced a significant inverted U training function across trials for both FT and FPV. In all cases, rapid learning was demonstrated in the early trials followed by a decline toward baseline in the later trials. These findings are discussed in terms of the role of strategy formation, frustration, saturation, and the limitations of the physiological learning process.
A Psychophysiological Field Study of Stress at Three Mile Island
Authors: Gatchel Robert J. , Schaeffer Marc A. , Baum Andrew
Published: February 2007

Residents of the area surrounding the Three Mile Island (TMI) nucelar power plant and from a control location 80 miles away participated in a longitudinal study of response to the venting of radioactive gas from the damaged reactor. Four assessments (including one prior to the venting, one during the venting, and two post‐venting) were made using a battery of biochemical, performance, and self‐report measures. Relative to demographically matched control subjects, TMI subjects exhibited higher levels of stress on each mode of this battery. While perceived threat and task performance remained constant during the four assessments for TMI subjects, symptom reporting and urinary catecholamine levels decreased after the krypton gas venting. Since these data were collected more than 17 months after the reactor accident, the findings suggest that the venting procedures had specific acute effects on chronic problems being experienced by TMI subjects, but no global effect across all measures.
Effects of Prolonged Sleep Deprivation, With and Without Chronic Physical Exercise, on Mood and Performance
Authors: Angus Robert G. , Heslegrave Ronald J. , Myles W. Stewart
Published: February 2007

The effects of physical exercise and sleep deprivation on mood and cognitive performance were studied in 12 healthy young male volunteers deprived of sleep on two occasions. During the first 60‐hr period without sleep, half of the subjects walked on a treadmill at 25–30% of their maximum aerobic capacity (Exercise condition) for 1 out of every 3 hrs while the remaining 6 subjects remained physically inactive (No Exercise condition) during that same hour. Eight weeks later the same 12 subjects underwent an identical sleep‐deprivation protocol except that those who were previously inactive exercised, while those who previously exercised remained inactive. Throughout the sleep deprivation periods, subjects in both conditions completed subjective assessments of fatigue, sleepiness and mood every 3 hrs, performed an auditory vigilance task every 6 hrs, and completed a cognitive test battery every 12 hrs. The results revealed clear decrements in mood and performance as a function of sleep loss. However, with the exception of somewhat more long reaction times in the Exercise condition, exercise neither increased nor decreased the impairment induced by sleep deprivation.