bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of an Attention‐Demanding Task on Amplitude and Habituation of the Electrodermal Orienting Response
Authors: Kroese Biza Stenfert , Siddle David A.T. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTTwo experiments were designed to investigate the effects of performance of a central task on habituation of the skin conductance response to task‐irrelevant stimuli. In Experiment 1 (N=48), subjects performed a visual monitoring task in which stimuli were presented at either 800 or 1000 msec. Half the subjects in each group received task‐irrelevant tones of 70dB while the other half did not. The results indicated that task‐irrelevant tones elicited responses that were larger than those associated with performance of the monitoring task itself, and that responses were larger and habituation slower in the high demand (800 msec) condition than in the low (1000 msec). In order to distinguish between different explanations of these results, Experiment 2 (N=64) employed the same central task and utilized an unexpected change in the pitch of the task‐irrelevant stimulus after 20 habituation trials. The results indicated that although habituation was again slower in the high demand condition than in the low, change trial responsiveness was less in the former than in the latter. The results are discussed in terms of arousal and information‐processing accounts of habituation.
A Consideration of Recent Criticisms of the T‐wave Amplitude Index of Myocardial Sympathetic Activity
Authors: Furedy John J. , Heslegrave Ronald J. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTBecause of its ventricular origin, T‐wave amplitude (TWA) has been suggested as a plausible candidate index for assessing myocardial sympathetic activity. This idea received some support in the literature but recent (1979–1980) papers from three independent laboratories have criticized the validity of TWA, and have at least implicitly suggested that TWA should be abandoned as a noninvasive sympathetic index. This paper examines these criticisms and finds them to be of questionable validity and certainly not of sufficient strength to support abandoning TWA. Instead, the conclusion drawn here is that we should continue to critically assess both TWA and other noninvasive candidate sympathetic indices by using invasive myocardial indices as criterion measures and both behavioral and pharmacological interventions as manipulations.
Design and Analysis Issues and Strategies in Psychophysiological Research
Authors: Muller Keith E. , Otto David A. , Benignus Vernon A. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTIssues in the design and analysis of psychophysiological research are outlined. Then strategies for design and analysis are reviewed. Evoked response potential (ERP) data are discussed as an important example. The nature of the research and the measurement methodology place unusual demands on the experimenter. Controlling error rates, exploratory versus confirmatory research, and the problem of many variables are important issues. Strategies for design and analysis follow naturally from the principles presented. Useful design strategies include pilot studies, cross validation, and “leapfrog” strategies. Useful analysis strategies include restricted ANOVA/MANOVA and unrestricted ANOVA/MANOVA.
Habituation and Dishabituation of the Orienting Reaction to Between and Within Trial Changes in Pitch and Loudness
Authors: Fredrikson Mats , Berggren Tomas , Wanko Georg , von Scheele Bo 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTWe investigated the effect of between and within trial changes in pitch and loudness on the electrodermal orienting reaction (OR), perceptions of movement, and their interaction. First, following 20 habituation trials (6‐s, 80dB, 1000 Hz), four groups of 10 subjects experienced either an increase or a between‐trial decrease in pitch (2000 or 500 Hz) or loudness (90 or 70 dB) on the 21st trial. Second, four additional groups of 20 subjects heard 20 tones that, within each 6‐s trial, either increased or decreased in pitch (500 to 2000 or 2000 to 500 Hz) or loudness (70 to 90 or 90 to 70 dB). During a dishabituation phase each group was split into halves having a nonchanging tone either increasing or decreasing relative to mean pitch or loudness. After each session subjects rated whether they perceived tones as approaching, retreating, or motionless.Compared with groups experiencing constant stimuli, groups presented tones changing within trials had greater skin conductance responses that habituated slower irrespective of direction of change or its perception. During dishabituation a similar number of subjects dishabituated to a stimulus increase as compared to a decrease irrespective of whether the change was in pitch or loudness. Perceptions of movement treated as an independent variable did not predict habituation or dishabituation of the OR. The results generally support Sokolov, and are discussed in relation to hypotheses presented by Sokolov, O'Gorman, and Bernstein.
Unconfounded Electrodermal Measures in Assessing the Aversiveness of Predictable and Unpredictable Shocks
Authors: Katz Randy 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTThe effect of temporal information on the electrodermal response to an aversive stimulus (shock) was evaluated. Eighty female volunteers were presented with trials in which the onset time of an aversive shock was either predictable or unpredictable. Following each trial, subjects indicated the degree of distress they felt while they were waiting for the shock to occur, and the perceived aversiveness of the shock at its impact. Skin resistance was recorded continuously. The responses produced by the predictable shocks were smaller than those produced by the unpredictable ones. Self‐report measures also followed this trend; more people preferred the predictable condition. Information about the timing of an aversive event appears beneficial for people both at a subjective and at an autonomic level.
Reliability of the Sleep Cycle as a Scoring Unit
Authors: Bunnell David E. , Horvath Steven M. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTA fundamental characteristic of sleep is the alternation between non‐REM sleep periods (NREMPs) and REM sleep periods (REMPs), together forming the NREM sleep cycle (measured from NREM onset to the end of the succeeding REMP). It is proposed that analysis of sleep stage data should reflect this fundamental unit of sleep by basing comparisons between nights on an equivalent number of completed NREM cycles. The night‐to‐night stability of sleep stages based on 4 completed NREM cycles was compared with an analysis in which sleep time was fixed at 6 hrs (thus including partially completed NREMPs or REMPs). Total sleep time in 4 cycles was highly reliable within subjects. Both approaches resulted in significant reliability coefficients for all sleep stages. However, reliability did not differ significantly between the two approaches.Analysis of individual NREMPs and REMPs indicated significant stability for REMPs 1 and 2 and NREMP 1 only, with intra‐individual variability increasing in later cycles. By contrast, SWS content displayed greatest reliability in cycles 2, 3, and 4.The results suggest that when subjects' sleep is compared on an equivalent‐cycles basis, intra‐individual stability of sleep patterns is as reliable as standard approaches whether stages are expressed in absolute duration or as a percent of TST. Advantages of such an approach are discussed.
Voluntary Control of Systolic Blood Pressure During Postural Change
Authors: Victor Ronald , Weipert Doris , Shapiro David 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTThe effects of biofeedback and voluntary control procedures on systolic blood pressure and heart rate during postural change were investigated in 30 normotensive men. Systolic pressure was measured with a continuous blood pressure tracking cuff, and blood pressure feedback was provided on a beat‐to‐beat basis. Postural changes in pressure, and corresponding heart rate changes, were examined in three experimental groups (N = 10 each). In two groups, subjects were given feedback training to increase or to decrease systolic blood pressure. In the third group, subjects were simply asked to increase their pressure but were not given feedback about their performance. Voluntary control of systolic pressure was attempted while subjects were seated and during postural change—sitting to standing. Subjects were also instructed to maintain voluntary blood pressure control in subsequent no‐feedback test trials. During postural change, voluntary control procedures caused significant alterations in tonic levels of systolic pressure, but phasic blood pressure reactivity was unaffected. With respect to postural changes in heart rate, both tonic and phasic treatment effects were observed. Implications of the findings for basic and clinical research are discussed.
Comparison of the Salivary Changes Associated With a Relaxing and With a Stressful Procedure
Authors: Borgeat François , Chagon Gilles , Legault Yves 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTThis study examined the hypothesis that salivary characteristics could constitute objective measures of anxiety in response to anxiety‐reducing or provoking interventions. Salivary parameters (volume, turbidity, pH, proteins, amylase, calcium, and chloride) of 16 normal volunteers were recorded along with psychophysiological (EMG, skin conductance level and responses, skin temperature, and heart rate) and subjective (Mood Adjective Check List) measures, before and after two contrasting experimental interventions: a relaxation procedure and stressful intellectual tasks. Multivariate and univariate analyses of variance indicated that salivary characteristics did not vary differentially whether a relaxing or stressing procedure was executed, while these contrasting interventions induced clearly opposite psychophysiological and subjective responses. However, the saliva collected before and after the stressing session was different from the sample collected before and after the relaxation session, suggesting that salivary characteristics are more related to the general apprehension and demands of a given situation than to an immediate stressing or calming intervention. It is concluded that the psychological meaning of salivary responses differs from that of the more classical psychophysiological parameters.
Placebo Effects in Biofeedback and Self‐Perception of Muscle Tension
Authors: Pollard Robert Q , Katkin Edward S. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTThis study evaluated the effectiveness of laryngeal muscle biofeedback, a common treatment for subvocalization, utilizing a strict control group structure. Subjects were 29 undergraduates assigned to Laryngeal Feedback (N = 10), Masseter Feedback (N = 10), or No Feedback Control (N = 9) conditions. The results indicated that laryngeal muscle biofeedback had no specific treatment effect; however, masseter biofeedback demonstrated a specific treatment effect when the new procedure was utilized. Subjects in the Masseter Feedback Group displayed masseter EMG levels which were substantially lower than subjects in the Laryngeal Feedback Group (p<.05). In order to validate the results of the biofeedback control procedure, accuracy of myogenic perception was also tested, and found to be significant for the masseter (p<.001) but not for the laryngeal muscle. It is shown that the biofeedback control procedure can more accurately assess the presence or absence of specific treatment effects in biofeedback. Theoretical implications of the myogenic perception concept are discussed, and suggestions for future research in biofeedback and myogenic perception are provided.
Comparison of Event‐Related Potentials of Young Children and Adults in a Visual Recognition and Word Reading Task
Authors: Kok A. , Rooijakkers J.A.J. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTAn experiment is described in which event‐related potentials (ERPs) of a group of young children were compared with ERPs of a group of young adults. Both groups were required to perform a simple word‐reading task and a picture‐recognition task. Principal components analyses (PCAs) were performed on the averaged ERPs in two different ways: a) separately for each of four combinations of tasks and age groups, and b) separately for each age group (pooled across tasks). The results demonstrated that ERP components of children and adults differed both qualitatively and quantitatively. First, children's ERPs were characterized by a long‐latency negative component (N500) and a slow positive wave (SW) component, and adults’ ERPs were characterized by two late positive components (P340 and SW respectively). Second, both children and adults showed an earlier positive component that varied in peak latency between 280 ms for children and 240 ms for adults. In addition, adults showed a marked increase in SW positivity in the word‐reading task as compared with the picture‐recognition task, while task effects were less manifest in the components of children. These results support the notion that children and adults differed both in speed as well as in their mode of processing under the different task requirements.
Electrodermal Activity in Patients With Chronic Pain: Implications for the Specificity of Physiological Indices in Relation to Psychopathology
Authors: Carr Vaughan , Minniti Rinaldo , Pilowsky Issy 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTAbnormalities in skin conductance activity have been described for several psychiatric conditions. To date, few comparable investigations have been undertaken in patients who suffer from chronic pain syndromes in which psychogenic factors are operating. Skin conductance measurements were made using an orienting response paradigm in a sample of 100 such patients with chronic pain. The distribution of skin conductance responding/non‐responding was bimodal. Significant relationships were found between orienting response categories or trials to habituation, and several other skin conductance variables, such as spontaneous responses, tonic level, response amplitude, and certain temporal characteristics of the orienting response. It was concluded that anomalies in the distribution of skin conductance responding are diagnostically non‐specific and that orienting response categories are likely to be more or less arbitrary divisions on an ‘arousal’ continuum.
Left Hemisphere Specialization for Facial and Manual Imitation
Authors: Dawson Geraldine , Warrenburg Stephen , Fuller Peter 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTThe hypothesis that the left cerebral hemisphere is specialized for the production of facial and manual motor imitation was tested. The measure of hemispheric specialization was electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings of alpha rhythm (8–12 Hz) asymmetries from homologous parietal sites taken during spatial, verbal, and motor imitation tasks. It was found that both language and motor imitation tasks were significantly more left‐lateralized than spatial tasks. The language and imitation tasks did not differ significantly in terms of the pattern of hemispheric specialization exhibited. Based on these findings, it was concluded that the left hemisphere is more directly involved in the production of facial and manual gestures. The role of motor imitation in the development of left hemisphere specialization for language is discussed.
Individual Differences in Phasic Cardiac Reactivity to Psychological Stress and the Law of Initial Value
Authors: Scher Hal , Furedy John J. , Heslegrave Ronald J. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTThe validity of the law of initial value (LIV), which predicts relationships between prestimulus level and phasic response, was evaluated for two cardiac measures, heart rate (HR) and electrocardiographic T‐wave amplitude (TWA). HR acceleration and TWA attenuation were produced in undergraduates by the performance of the backward digit span task. The between‐subjects correlations of prestimulus level with the magnitude of the phasic responses were significant, with signs opposite to that which would be predicted by the LIV. The within‐subjects prestimulus level‐phasic response correlations, however, were consistent with the LIV. It appears that individual differences in psychologically‐elicited phasic cardiac reactivity negate LIV predictions. These results emphasize the importance of sharply distinguishing the between‐ vs. within‐subjects formulations of the LIV, and are contrary to recent psychophysiology textbook accounts of the prestimulus level‐phasic response relationship for cardiac variables.
The Role of the Orienting Response in the Anticipation of Information: A Skin Conductance Response Study
Authors: Spinks John A. , Blowers Geoffrey H. , Shek Daniel T.L. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTTheoretical positions concerning the role of the orienting response (OR) in information‐processing and attention have viewed the OR either as indexing an active increase in information‐processing efficiency, or as passively reflecting the results of information processing. This paper reports a skin conductance response (SCR) study of a two‐stimulus anticipation experiment, where a warning stimulus (WS) informed subjects of the nature of an impending imperative stimulus (IS). The subjects' task was to identify as much of the IS as possible. Both the WS and the IS varied in information content and stimulus duration. SCR magnitude in the WS‐IS interval varied according to the anticipated information processing requirements and was more sensitive to IS variation than WS variation. It is concluded that these responses index an anticipatory, activating process closely related to that suggested of the OR by Sokolov (1966), and consonant with the functional characteristics of the autonomic nervous system. Registration of information appears to be neither a necessary determinant of OR magnitude, nor a parsimoniously useful part of OR theory.
Cardiac Awareness in Infarct Patients and Normals
Authors: Jones Gary E. , Jones Kenneth R. , Cunningham Russell A. , Caldwell John A. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTIt has been argued that many subjects may have low awareness of visceral sensations because such feedback is of little relevance and salience in normal activity. This experiment examines awareness of cardiac sensations (heartbeats) in a group of 13 subjects, aged 37–67 yrs, all of whom had myocardial infarcts within the preceding 6 yrs previous to the experiment. Cardiac awareness was contrasted with the performance of a gender and age matched noncardiac control group on 80 Whitehead type discrimination trials. It was hypothesized that since rehabilitated cardiac patients frequently profess extreme sensitivity to their heart's activity and often experience benign arrhythmias which cause them to focus attention on their heart rate, that this group would show greater awareness of heartbeats than controls. The results clearly show that cardiac patients are no better able to discriminate true from false trials than are normals. Only one of 26 subjects showed above chance levels of discrimination, which is much lower than the percentage usually reported for young adult subjects. Respiration rate and amplitude, finger pulse volume, and heart period showed no differences between groups. The results suggest that although cardiac patients may feel aware of cardiac activity, they show no higher awareness of heartbeats during normal sinus rhythm than noncardiac controls.
Behavioral Control of Respiration in Sleep and Sleepiness Due to Signal‐Induced Sleep Fragmentation
Authors: Badia Pietro , Harsh John , Balkin Thomas , O'Rourke Diane , Burton Stephen 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTThe effects of sleep fragmentation on behavioral control of sleeping respiration and on daytime sleepiness were investigated in 20 college students. All were polygraphically monitored both during nighttime sleep and during daytime naps. Ten experimental subjects were informed while awake that tones would be presented to them during nighttime sleep. Their task was to terminate the tones by taking a deep breath. Half of the subjects first received tones every 4 min; the other half received them every 8 min. After 4 consecutive nights subjects received 3 days off and conditions were reversed for 4 more consecutive nights. Tones started at 45dB and, in the absence of a response, increased 10dB every 10 seconds up to 95dB. Control subjects (N = 10) did not receive tones. The absolute number of arousals to tones was greater but the percentage of arousals was lower under the 4‐min condition. Full awakenings occurred infrequently. Probability of making a breathing response remained high across days for both fragmentation conditions, but latency to respond was shorter and probability higher under the 8‐min condition. Sleep fragmentation, whether “frequent” (4‐min) or “infrequent” (8‐min), did not induce greater daytime sleepiness than did the nonfragmentation control condition, and sleepiness did not differ between the two experimental conditions. Implications for developing behavioral techniques for treating sleep‐related breathing disorders are discussed.
Effects of Visual Field, Stimulus Degradation, and Level of Practice on Event‐Related Potentials of the Brain
Authors: Kok A. , van de Vijver F.R. , Rooijakkers J.A.J. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTThe present study reports the results of an experiment in which subjects were instructed to indicate whether letter‐pairs that were randomly presented in the center and peripheral (left and right) visual fields were semantically same or different. Letter‐pairs could be either intact or perceptually degraded, and all subjects participated in 3 consecutive sessions of the experiment. The results showed that event‐related‐potential (ERP) components were strongly affected by the visual field of presentation of stimuli. Center field stimuli elicited late positive components (P630, SW) of larger amplitude than peripheral field stimuli, at all electrode locations. At lateral electrode sites, N200 components were always larger (more negative), and late positive components were consistently smaller (less positive) to contralaterally than ipsilaterally presented stimuli. However, the contralateral negativity of N200 was much larger over the right than left regions of the scalp, while positive ERP components showed a more symmetrical distribution of the contra‐ vs. ipsilateral stimulation effect. These results are discussed in relationship to cognitive aspects of information processing, as well as the neural origin of endogenous ERP components.