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Biomedical subjects

H R Barrett

Publications and source records attributed to H R Barrett.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Beri-beri: age-gender bias in The Gambia.

This paper investigates a suspected outbreak of beri-beri which occurred in The Gambia in 1988. The outbreak was spatially specific and had a distinct age and gender bias, with young men aged 15-49 being the group mainly affected. The age and gender bias of the outbreak is particularly interesting as women and children in the developing world are usually more susceptable to conditions associated with malnourishment, than men. The authors investigate the peculiar nature of the outbreak and find that they cannot easily explain the apparent age and gender bias. The authors note that at the time of the outbreak medical treatment took precedence over socio-economic investigations. This makes it difficult to ascertain why certain age and gender groups were affected and thus to target them for future preventative health education programmes. This case study therefore concludes, that where possible, medical investigations must be combined with socio-economic studies if future outbreaks of this kind are to be avoided.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Response variability as a predictor of skin temperature biofeedback performance.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the power of three subject variables as predictors of performance in a skin temperature biofeedback task. Data from three related experiments (N = 52) designed to train digital skin temperature increases in four sessions were pooled. Three measures (mean skin temperature, standard deviation and standard error of estimate), derived from a prefeedback instructional control session, were correlated with three criteria derived from training sessions (temperature change in the first, last and mean of training sessions). There were significant correlations with standard error of estimate, the largest with the mean change measure, accounting for 14% of temperature variance. The findings are consistent with an operant conditioning model of biofeedback learning, and have implications for more optimal training methods and experimental designs based on assessment of the standard error of estimate.

Biofeedback, Psychology↗
PubMed1987

Skin temperature biofeedback for multiple sessions with monetary incentives.

This study evaluated the relative effectiveness of two incentive contingencies in learning biofeedback-assisted control of peripheral skin temperature: positive versus positive/negative monetary incentives. Both incentive groups of 10 participated in six sessions, including pre- and posttraining voluntary control sessions, and four intervening sessions with visual feedback and monetary contingencies. Each session consisted of adaptation, resting baseline, feedback or voluntary control, and a final resting baseline. The results indicated no significant difference in response control between groups and an over-all decline in temperature within sessions. Self-control was evidenced by the slower rate of decline in temperature for the first as compared to the last session, and feedback control by the attenuation in the rate of decline in the last three training sessions. Based on data from other physiological responses, these findings are not likely due to habituation effects. It was concluded that response control should not necessarily be defined in terms of increasing temperature but rather by reference to an appropriate comparison condition. Motivational effects should be further investigated with alternative incentive contingencies.

Biofeedback, Psychology↗
PubMed1986

Biofeedback-assisted control of peripheral skin temperature: a methodological study.

To maximize the production and detection of training effects in biofeedback-assisted control of peripheral skin temperature, this study incorporated these methodological features: differential feedback between dominant and nondominant hands, monetary incentives, within-subjects manipulation of training direction and multiple-training sessions, graphic-based visual feedback, and no-feedback self-control periods. Eight male subjects participated in eight sessions each consisting of adaptation (22 min.), bidirectional self-control (10 min.), and bidirectional feedback training (35 min.). Mean differential temperature changes were significantly different for increase and decrease conditions, but the magnitude of control did not change over sessions. Differential feedback control was of small magnitude and tended to be accomplished by decreasing both hands at different rates; self-control did not develop during the course of training. This methodology did not produce large-magnitude feedback, or self-control, but differential feedback is recommended for further study as an experimental paradigm.

Adult↗