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Biomedical subjects

E L Di Giusto

Publications and source records attributed to E L Di Giusto.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Imagery and the autonomic nervous system: some methodological issues.

The present paper is concerned with the role played by image content in the mediation of autonomic nervous system (ANS) arousal. The minimum methodological requirements of such studies are described including controls for imaging, image content, and expectancy effects. Studies meeting these requirements are then reviewed. It is concluded that image content can be a significant modifier of ANS arousal and that this property is not restricted to images containing affective, e.g., phobic, content. These conclusions have relevance to research into techniques such as biofeedback, Transcendental Meditation, and progressive relaxation, where imagery many have a profound influence but where it has received little direct empirical attentiol.

Arousal↗
PubMed1978

One-trial conditioned suppression: effects of instructions on extinction.

Two experimental groups of undergraduate volunteers received a single Pavlovian conditioning trial consisting of a paired presentation of a tone conditioned stimulus (CS) and a shock unconditioned stimulus (UCS). Control groups received either the CS alone or the UCS alone. Subjects from one experimental group were subsequently instructed that they would not receive further shocks, while the other experimental group received no such instructions. The CS alone was then presented once to all four groups while subjects were engaged in a button-pressing task maintained by slide reinforcement. During the latter phase, rate of button-pressing was measured. Classically conditioned suppression of button-pressing was obtained in the noninstructed experimental group but not in the instructed group. The results demonstrate that suppression can be a sensitive index of Pavlovian conditioning in humans but question the use of conditioned suppression as an adequate experimental analog of clinically observed anxiety-motivated behavior.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Prenatal alcohol consumption and open-field behaviour in rats: effects of age at time of testing.

Throughout gestation pregnant Wistar rats consumed a nutritious liquid diet containing 35% ethanol-derived calories. Control mothers were fed lab-chow. Subsequently, the offspring of the ethanol-fed mothers displayed significantly greater activity (ambulation) in an open-field test at 28 and at 56 days of age, but not at 112 days of age. No differences in defecation were observed at any age.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1976

Effects of prenatal alcohol consumption on open-field behaviour and alcohol preference in rats.

Throughout gestation pregnant Wistar rats consumed a liquid diet containing sustagen and ethanol. Control mothers were fed on lab chow. Subsequently, the offspring of the ethanol-fed mothers displayed significantly greater activity (ambulation and rearing) in an open-field test. Further, pups whose mothers were exposed to ethanol consumed significantly more ethanol in a preference test, compared to control offspring.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1976

Impairment of Hebb-Williams maze performance following prolonged alcohol consumption in rats.

Wistar rats consumed a liquid diet containing sustagen and ethanol for a period of 150 days. Control animals were pair-fed an identical diet except for isocaloric substitution of sucrose for ethanol. Forty-five days after the liquid diets were discontinued both groups were tested for performance on the Hebb-Williams maze. The experimental group made significantly more errors than the control group indicating that long-term ingestion of alcohol can lead to substantial impairment of problem-solving abilities in rats.

Alcohol Drinking↗