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Biomedical subjects

I Curio

Publications and source records attributed to I Curio.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Implicit memory for auditorily presented threatening stimuli: a process-dissociation approach.

The investigation of unconscious cognition involves especially problems with the methodology of measuring implicit and explicit proportions of different task performances. In this study the process dissociation procedure of Jacoby and its modification within the multinomial modelling framework for an indirect word-nonword-discrimination task is applied to a sample of 45 healthy students. The paradigm includes acoustically presented stimuli. During a learning phase, subjects listened to a series of neutral and threatening words. Performance was tested by letting subjects decide whether a presented stimulus (masked with white noise at signal-noise ratio of -17 dB or unmasked) had been a word or a nonword. Within this paradigm, implicit cognition occurs when (a) a word is more probably correctly recognized as "word" after presentation during the learning phase (typical priming effect) or when (b) a nonword derived from a word is more probably falsely recognized as "word" after its corresponding word had been presented during the learning phase (effect of implicit cognition given perceptual fluency). Frequencies for hits and false alarms were analyzed within the multinomial model which allows estimating parameters for the correct discrimination of words (c), the response bias (b), the classical priming effect (u1), and the parameter for the priming effect of "old" nonwords (u2). Under masked stimuli the multinomial model showed implicit cognition, an effect not equally found for neutral and threatening words. Threatening words exhibited a significantly higher portion of implicit cognition than neutral ones. Given the statistical complexity of multinomial models, the application of this method was explained in detail.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1999

Masking of complex sound--technical notes for realization of constant signal-noise-ratio.

Based on findings regarding unconscious semantic information-processing for meaningful visual stimuli, this paper describes a standardized procedure for the construction of constant signal to noise ratio for the masking of complex sounds. The proposed algorithm is derived from psychoacoustical laws concerning frequency and time-weighting of sound. Spectral characteristics are taken into account by mixing signal and white noise within frequency ranges defined through critical bandwidth ("narrow-band masking"). Furthermore, time-weighting is taken into account using sound-pressure patterns generated through low pass filters which follow the international specification DIN IEC 651 which provides specification for sound-level meters. Hardware and software circuits are described in detail. This proposal overcomes recognized lack of standardized methods in studies addressing unconscious semantic processing of auditory stimuli.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1993

Results of a low-altitude flight noise study in Germany: acute extraaural effects.

This paper begins by outlining the aims which our study into the acute effects of low-altitude flight noise set out to achieve. The key question here concerns the relationship between noise parameters (maximum sound level and sound level rise rate) and specific reactions by the individuals affected. The subjects, healthy volunteers, were exposed via earphones to digitally recorded MLAF noise, using sophisticated recording technology. Their reactions were studied on various levels ranging from the subjective experience of negative effects through startle reactions to changes in the cardiovascular and endocrine systems. It emerged that a high sound level rise rate is a physical parameter which leads not only to more physical symptoms being cited by the subjects, but also to more pronounced myokinetic effects of an objectively measurable nature. Studies of circulation physiology were also conducted to throw light on the haemodynamic mechanism of the startle reaction. The findings suggest that increases in cardiac output per minute in a startled subject with a healthy circulation need not necessarily lead to protracted increases in blood pressure. A counter-regulation occurs by means of vasculomotory responses in the muscle. Should this regulatory system be impaired, as may be the case with elderly people, for example, blood pressure increases of up to 45 mm Hg over the initial value may ensure. A sensitization is observed after repeated exposure, with the startle reaction intensifying or else being triggered off by lower sound levels. The sensitization of startle reactions is neuro-physiologically associated with unpleasant or fear-inducing environmental stimuli. Together with the observed increases in plasma hydrocortisone and changes in magnesium metabolism of a type characteristic of stress, this phenomenon of sensitization enables us to establish the hypothetical link between specific acute reactions to MLAF noise and long-term health effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Evaluating the validity of short witness reports using behavioral and psychophysiologic parameters].

Within the context of credibility assessment, the impact of behavioral and physiological adaptation and response patterns of truly and falsely testifying eyewitnesses was examined in a laboratory study. It was further examined statements concerning characteristics of the delict and the experimental situation itself. 20 subjects were instructed to truly or falsely testify after having witnessed a willful destruction. Eye movements, respiration, heart rate and skin conductance were recorded and analyzed by computer. Witnesses instructed to falsely testify showed elevated skin conductance responses and an increased variability of horizontal eye movements at the beginning of the session. Additionally, they also showed stronger responses in eye-blink rate, respiration rate and variability of skin conductance and heart rate to questions related to the behavior in the experimental situation. Reactivity to questions concerning the culprit was less pronounced. Results are discussed in terms of their application within the German law system.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Annoyance and health risk caused by military low-altitude flight noise.

Effects of noise of low-flying military jet aircraft were investigated from demoscopic and epidemiological points of view. Areas with different low-altitude flight noise exposure were compared with one another as to subjective annoyance, casual blood pressure and ear symptoms. With the same energy equivalent sound pressure level (Leq), the subjective disturbance caused by military low-altitude flight noise was essentially greater than that due to ordinary flight noise (in the neighbourhood of civil airports). A comparison of several areas revealed that frequencies of ear symptoms (tinnitus lasting more than one hour and permanent hearing threshold shifts of greater than 30 dB) were higher only in areas where maximal flight noise levels considerably exceeded 115 dB (A) accompanied by rapid noise level increases. Blood pressure measurements yielded significantly higher values (group difference 9 mm Hg systolic) in girls living in these highly exposed areas. Acoustic limits are proposed with respect to public health.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Specificity of phasic heart rate responses to visual attention in essential hypertensives.

A preliminary report is given concerning phasic heart rate responses in hypertensive individuals. There is some evidence, that the expected accelerative drive appears under visual attention conditions. That is demonstrated in two typical reactions of a hypertensive and a normotensive subject and in a marked higher acceleration at several points of the response curves for the hypertensive group. Z-scores of heart periods are discussed as the appropriate measurement of phasic HR-changes from rest to stimulus conditions.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pain description and illness behavior in pain diaries of fibromyalgia and polyarthritis patients].

Intensity, sensory-discriminative and affective-motivational quality of pain were assessed over a period of 14 days by means of the Bonn Pain Diary in 16 fibromyalgia (FM) patients and 18 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Additionally, patients reported pain and sleep duration, daily iratations, and pain-reducing interventions. FM patients differed from RA-patients by higher scores in the sensoric-discriminative component of pain. The patterns of preferred pain descriptors were syndrome-specific. However, the two groups did not differ in the overall daily pain duration; whereas in RA-patients the pain attacks occurred mostly until 10 a.m. In FM-patients, the time-course of pain over 14 days showed higher variability compared to RA-patients. RA patients sleep longer than FM-patients. Furthermore, the groups differ statistically significantly with respect to interactions of scaled pain with the preferred interventions in order to reduce pain. Conclusions concerning pain-referring cognitions are drawn. In general, the evaluation of self-reports about pain by behavioral parameters is recommended.

Activities of Daily Living↗