Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W Isaac

Publications and source records attributed to W Isaac.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Altering arousal in humans by varying ambient sensory conditions.

Reaction times of 6 male and 6 female college students were used as a measure of arousal under different levels of ambient sensory stimulation. Subjects were tested under conditions of light-quiet, light-noise, dark-quiet and dark-noise with a non-signalled reaction-time task using a tactile stimulus. All sensory conditions were presented to each subject in a counterbalanced order and replicated in a second session 3 to 8 wk. later. Significant main effects were noise and replication. Improvement in performance across replication was related to the sex of the subject. White noise and level of illumination interacted to produce the typical U-shaped function. Results are discussed in terms of their relevance for research using behavioral and physiological measures of arousal.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

The effects of d-amphetamine and illumination on behaviors of the squirrel monkey.

A behavioral classification and scoring procedure was developed for observing specific responses of squirrel monkeys. The observational procedure along with the photocell method of measuring general activity were then employed to examine the effects of illumination and d-amphetamine on the behavior of squirrel monkeys. It was found that d-amphetamine decreased the incidence of those behaviors seen normally under light conditions while it increased the frequency of behaviors normally seen in the dark.

Animals↗

The effects of age and illumination on the dose-response curves for three stimulants.

The dose-response relationships for three stimulants have been explored. These drugs have been shown to differ in potency and, with successive doubling of doses, have been found to have dose-response curves of differing slopes. In addition, the relationship between dose and activity level was not the same for younger and older rats. The relationship between dosage of both d-amphetamine and methylphenidate and locomotor activity was not the same in the light and the dark. The latter finding suggests a difference between these two stimulants and the third stimulant studied, caffeine, whose effects where unaltered by ambient illumination level.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Behavioral effects of d-amphetamine and caffeine in the squirrel monkey.

Four Squirrel monkeys were trianed on a bar-press response with reinforcement available every 80 sec. The effects of d-amphetamine and caffeine upon this response were studied in both light and dark. In addition to differential drug effects it was found that both illumination and sex of the subjects were important variables.

Analysis of Variance↗

Stimulants and lesions of the substantia nigra and red nucleus.

The interaction of altered activity levels by stimulants and brainstem lesions was examined. Lesions of the substantia nigra and red nucleus significantly increased activity over control levels in albino rats. The stimulant action of d-amphetamine and methylphenidate was additive with lesion effects. In addition, stimulants disrupted the normal light-dark relationship with activity while the lesions did not. It is suggested that there are two functionally separate systems regulating locomotor activity.

Animals↗