Biomedical subjects

Paul Pauli

Publications and source records attributed to Paul Pauli.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

The influence of stimulus array on training of a speeded response.

We conducted two experiments to study the training of speeded responses to stimuli in a clock face array. Participants were trained on one clock face and later tested on either the same or a different clock face. The clock faces varied along 3 dimensions of change (left-right flip, up-down flip, and 180 degrees rotation). Skill acquisition was reflected in decreases in overall, initiation, and movement response times in the training and test phases except that movement time reached an asymptote during training and did not decrease further during test. Test performance was best when training and test used the same clock face and worst when the training to test change involved an up-down flip. The transition to different clock faces was consistent with an interpretation based on the violation of expectations about target positions acquired during training. Consistent trial-by-trial feedback led to better initiation time but not movement time during training than periodic feedback, but this effect did not persist into the test phase.

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PubMed2004

Modulation of event-related brain potentials during affective picture processing: a complement to startle reflex and skin conductance response?

The present study compared startle response, skin conductance response (SCR) and subjective variables (valence and arousal ratings, viewing time) assessed in an affective picture paradigm with simultaneously registered event-related brain potentials (ERPs) parameters such as P300 and positive slow waves (PSW). Pleasant, neutral and unpleasant pictures from the International Affective Picture System [Lang, P.J., Bradley, M.M., Cuthbert, B.N., 1999. International Affective Picture System (IAPS): Instruction manual and affective ratings. Technical Report A-4, Center for Research in Psychophysiology. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida] were presented for 8 s, and startle probes were delivered during picture presentation. Startle response was modulated by picture valence, and SCR by picture arousal. ERP positivity was greater for pleasant and unpleasant than for neutral pictures for the P300 amplitude and the positive slow wave (PSW). ERPs showed characteristic differences and a distinct time course for pictures of different valence categories and may deliver useful information not contained in startle response or SCR measures. The simultaneous registration of startle responses and ERPs in the affective picture paradigm seems valuable.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Electromyographic activity of the lip muscle as a measure of puffing on a cigarette.

The electromyographic activity (EMG) of the upper lip muscle (m. orbicularis oris) during sucking on a cigarette was examined as a potential new measure of smoking behaviour. This parameter was examined under conditions of actual smoking, sham smoking and sucking on a straw. We applied psychophysical procedures (methods of magnitude production), normal and paced smoking, two conventional means to confirm puffing (video recording and changes in air pressure in a cigarette holder) on different groups of smokers (heavy and light). The data revealed that lip-EMG is a valid and reliable means to quantify sucking on a cigarette in a variety of situations common to the study of smoking. It was concluded that lip-EMG may be a sensitive and selective measure of motor activity associated with smoking. The lip-EMG may also be applied together with hand activity and breathing to identify individual puffing, particularly in heavy smokers and during actual smoking. Discussed were several applications of this method to the study of smoking and other motivated behaviour such as consumption of water and palatable fluids.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Memory bias in patients with hypochondriasis and somatoform pain disorder.

OBJECTIVE: A memory bias enhances memory for disorder congruent information. The experimental evaluation of such biases in somatoform disorders may improve our understanding of these disorders. METHOD: Immediate and delayed free recall as well as recognition for positive, negative, pain, and neutral word stimuli were studied in 28 patients with somatoform disorders (hypochondriasis and/or pain disorder patients) and 14 patients without somatoform disorders. RESULTS: Somatoform patients recalled fewer positive words and their criteria for recognition of negative and pain words were less conservative than in patients without somatoform disorders. In addition, patients with comorbid hypochondriasis and somatoform pain disorder showed an enhanced immediate recall of pain words. CONCLUSION: The memory biases found in this study support cognitive theories of somatoform disorders. They may contribute to the development and maintenance of somatoform disorders.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Covariation bias in the affect-modulated startle paradigm.

A covariation bias (CB) reflects the overestimation of an objectively random covariation between fear-relevant picture stimuli (e.g., spiders) and aversive consequences (e.g., electric shocks). The affect-modulated startle (AMS) paradigm is similar to it because aversive reflex probes are delivered in the context of unpleasant, neutral or pleasant picture stimuli. The present study explored if a covariation bias is present in the affect-modulated startle paradigm. There was a covariation bias for unpleasant and pleasant compared to neutral pictures probably due to differences in arousal. Startle reflexes were modulated by picture valence. No correlation between a covariation bias index and the startle response modulation was found. It is concluded that both phenomena are mediated by different underlying mechanisms.

Adult↗