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Biomedical subjects

W T McGowan

Publications and source records attributed to W T McGowan.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Drugs and the discrimination of duration.

The effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), d-amphetamine (AMP), chlorpromazine (CPZ), and the most active isomer of marihuana (delta9 - THC) on timing behavior were analyzed with a two-choice, discrete trial procedure in which pigeons were trained to discriminate visual stimuli that differed with respect to duration ('long' vs. 'short'). LSD (0.01, 0.04, 0.16 mg/kg) decreased response speed (increased latency), but otherwise had no significant effects on performance of the discrimination. d-Amphetamine (1.0, 2.0, 4.0 mg/kg) increased perseveration of 'spatial bias' and, at a dose of 4.0 mg/kg, lowered response speed. This compound did not significantly alter accuracy (percentage correct). CPZ (7.5, 15.0, 30.0 mg/kg) significantly decreased accuracy and, at a dose of 30.0 mg/kg, significantly lowered speed; THC also decreased accuracy and lowered speed. Neither CPZ nor THC significantly altered perseveration.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Frontal electromyographic feedback. Stress attenuation and generalization.

This study evaluated the effects of one session of frontal electromyographic (EMG) feedback on (1) frontal EMG, (2) frontal EMG response to stress, (3) cardiovascular variables, and (4) cardiovascular responses to stress. Eighteen male and female undergraduate volunteers received either frontal EMG feedback or a relaxation instructions control procedure and were then exposed to a fear stimulus (visualization of a feared situation) and a post-stress adaptation period while several cardiovascular measures were monitored. In comparison to the control group, frontal EMG feedback significantly reduced resting levels of frontal EMG and frontal EMG response to stress but had no significant effect on cardiovascular measures. The results of this study suggest that one session of frontal EMG feedback may attenuate response to stress but, within the paradigm utilized, may be confined to the specific muscle groups monitored. Additional areas of needed research were noted including individual differences in generalization, the effects of EMG feedback from multiple sites sequentially and concomitantly, and the generalized effects from symptom-specific sites.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Effects of morphine and chlorpromazine on the detection of shock.

A discrete-trial, two-choice, 'yes-no' procedure was used to determine the extent to which the perceptual effects of compounds such as morphine and chlorpromazine (CPZ) can be attributed to drug-induced changes in ability to detect shock stimuli (sensitivity). Both morphine (4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 mg/kg) and CPZ (0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 mg/kg) significantly reduced accuracy and increased the times (i.e., lowered the speeds) to initiate trials and to make choice responses. The effects of morphine appeared to be somewhat greater than those of CPZ, particularly at the lowest shock intensity (0.05 mA). When compared to appropriate saline control days, morphine, but not CPZ, significantly reduced accuracy of discrimination on trials when shocks were presented, whereas CPZ, but not morphine, reduced accuracy on no-shock trials. The effects of morphine, but not of CPZ, on accuracy (both overall and on shock trials) decreased as shock intensity increased. The effects of shock intensity were generally inversely related to the effects of morphine and directly related to the effects of CPZ.

Animals↗