A multivariate analysis of some operant variables used in behavioral pharmacology.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
W O Faustman
Publications and source records attributed to W O Faustman.
Use of operant response duration to distinguish the effects of haloperidol from nonreward.
Prior experimentation, making exclusive use of operant response rate, has offered conflicting evidence regarding the role of reinforcement and motor effects in neuroleptic-induced changes in operant responding. In the present work, response rate and response duration were recorded for 12 rats responding under a fixed-ratio 10 schedule of food reinforcement. On six consecutive days separate groups of animals were given haloperidol or saline-with-extinction. Although both drug treatment and extinction produced elevated durations compared to pre-treatment baseline, the haloperidol group exhibited response durations that were significantly higher than those of the no-drug-extinction group. In view of these results, and since prior work has shown that response duration provides information which is nonredundant with response rate, it is suggested that response duration may be a valuable tool in future work attempting to partial out the motivational and motor effects of neuroleptics on operant responding.
Animals↗
Comments on the use of group therapy and written instruction in treatment of sexual dysfunction.
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Female↗
Inexpensive technique to record respiration during flight.
This paper describes the development and use of a small (19 X 11 X 18 cm) tape recording system designed to monitor respiratory patterns during flight. This lightweight system (1.85 kg) was developed for less than $200 using commerically available subassemblies. Respiratory patterns are detected via a comfortable intranasal thermometer, amplified, and converted to an FM signal for taping. The device will also convert the tape recorded signal to a graphic display on a laboratory strip chart recorder. Reliable recordings of respiratory rate and respiratory regularity have been made in ambient temperatures of up to 43 degrees C. Chart recordings of student pilots' respiratory patterns at different stages of flight are presented. With modifications to the transducer assembly and amplifier, the basic recording system may be used to monitor other biological functions such as EMG, GSR, EEG, and ECG. Environmental variables have a frequency of less than 250 Hz (wind velocity, temperature, noise, etc.) may also be recorded with proper transducers.
Aerospace Medicine↗
Comparison of cognitive performance in RDC-diagnosed schizoaffective and schizophrenic patients with the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery.
Controversy continues regarding the differential diagnostic distinction between schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia, and there are few published studies that examine the neuropsychological performance of schizoaffective patients. We evaluated 52 RDC-diagnosed schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients with equal numbers of medicated and unmedicated patients using the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery and additional cognitive measures. Both groups performed at cognitively impaired levels. The cognitive performance level of schizoaffective patients was indistinguishable from that of the schizophrenic patients. The RDC subtype of schizoaffective disorder (depressed or manic) also was not related to cognitive performance level. Findings are consistent with the notion that cognitive impairment is found in a significant portion of schizophrenic (and possibly schizoaffective) patients and that the presence of this deficit may characterize a specific subgroup of patients.
Adult↗