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PubMed1985

Further data on the effects of subliminal symbiotic stimulation on schizophrenics.

This investigation further examined the effects of activating unconscious symbiotic fantasies in schizophrenics. One hundred twenty-eight hospitalized schizophrenic men who qualified as "relatively differentiated" on the Adjective Rating Scale were randomly assigned to four groups. Each group was assessed for pathological thinking, pathological nonverbal behavior, and self-esteem before and after the subliminal exposure of an experimental and control stimulus. The control stimulus for all groups was the message PEOPLE ARE WALKING and the experimental stimuli were the messages MOMMY AND I ARE ONE, MOMMY IS ALWAYS WITH ME, MOMMY FEEDS ME WELL, and I CANNOT HURT MOMMY (one for each group). One half of each group was subliminally exposed to verbal messages only and one half to verbal messages accompanied by congruent pictures. The first stimulus (MOMMY AND I ARE ONE) was intended to activate unconscious symbiotic fantasies that in a number of prior studies reduced pathology in groups of relatively differentiated schizophrenics. The other stimuli were intended to activate reassuring unconscious fantasies about "mommy" that were not specifically symbiosis-related. Only the MOMMY AND I ARE ONE stimulus led to more adaptive behavior and did so on all three dependent variables. This supported the supposition, also borne out in two other studies, that it is specifically symbiosis-related gratifications that are ameliorative for schizophrenics. The above results were considerably stronger for the subgroup that was exposed to a picture accompanying the MOMMY AND I ARE ONE message. This was viewed as probably the result of the pictorial representation serving as a concretization of the more abstract verbal message and as such being more relevant to the relatively primitive mode of thinking in schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Methodology in subliminal psychodynamic activation: the next step in the debate.

Subliminal psychdynamic activation methodology has recently been the subject of an exchange of views between Birgegård and Sohlberg (1999) and Fudin (2000). The agreements and some remaining points of contention are summarized here. The main difference of opinion appears to concern unconscious verbal encoding in relation to subjective experience in subliminal stimulation and whether subliminal psychodynamic activation results are unreliable until a full explanation of how verbal encoding works is at hand. We conclude that clarifying perspectives is important and that those suggesting alternative explanations of results on subliminal psychodynamic activation must now empirically investigate their claims.

Humans↗
PubMed2006

Novel evidence for hypersensitivity of visceral sensory neural circuitry in irritable bowel syndrome patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients has been documented by evaluation of perceived stimulations that can reflect abnormalities of both sensory neurocircuitry and cognitive processes. The presence of actual neurohypersensitivity in human beings has not been documented separately. Because subliminal stimulations are free from the influence of stimulus-related cognitive processes, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) cortical response to these stimuli can be considered a measure of activity of the neural circuitry alone. The aim of this study was to compare quantitatively the cerebral cortical fMRI activity response to equal subliminal stimulations between IBS patients and age-matched controls. METHODS: We studied 10 IBS patients and 10 healthy controls using a computerized barostat-controlled rectal distention device. fMRI activity volume and percent maximum signal intensity change for equal subliminal distention pressures were compared between controls and patients. RESULTS: Three levels of subliminal distention pressures (eg, 10, 15, and 20 mm Hg), were represented in both controls and patients and were analyzed for fMRI response. In all 3 distention levels the fMRI activity volume in IBS patients was significantly larger than age- and sex-matched controls (P < .05). The percent maximum signal intensity change was similar between IBS patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: The volume of cerebral cortical activity response to equal subliminal distention pressures in IBS patients is significantly larger than in controls, documenting the existence of hypersensitivity of the neural circuitry in this patient group irrespective of stimulus-related cognitive processes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of caffeine and phenamin on caudate inhibition of aggressive reactions in cats].

In chronic experiments conducted on cats it was shown that caffeine (10--30 mg/kg) failed to change agressive reactions developing in stimulation of the meso- or diencephalic structures. Phenamine (1--3 mg/kg) facilitated the appearance of emotional manifestations and lowered the threshold of the agressive response. Subliminal stimulation of the caudate nucleus in control experiments caused motor tranquilization and depressed the agressive behaviour to a lesser degree when practised against the background of the caffeine action. At the same time, phenamine abolished the influence not only of the threshold, but also of the subliminal stimulation of the caudate nucleus on the spontaneous motor activity and the rage behaviour.

Aggression↗
PubMed2005

How to detect an electrocutaneous shock which is not delivered? Overt spatial attention influences decision.

Lateral shifts in overt attention have been previously shown to modulate reaction times to lateral electrocutaneous stimuli, as well as perception or unpleasantness thresholds. A response bias can play a role in the elicitation of these lateral differences. Therefore, the present experiment aimed at investigating whether eye orientation induces a decision bias in favour of the ipsilateral hemispace. Participants were asked whether or not they suspected subliminal electrocutaneous shocks, whereas no subliminal stimulation was actually delivered. A secondary visual task led participants to direct their eyes ipsi- or contralateral to the stimulated area. Differences between experimental conditions in the amount of subliminal shocks participants acknowledge to receive (number of positive responses) are thought to reflect decision biases. Low and high trait anxiety participants were involved. Results showed an interaction between the eye orientation and the tested hand. The number of positive responses was smaller in right-hand tests with contralateral eye orienting. This effect fits those described previously with real electrocutaneous stimuli. This interaction is related to hemispheric differences in spatial attention. In contrast to thresholds studies, this study failed to replicate that a lateral difference arises in the low but not in the high trait anxiety individuals, suggesting that this interaction was mostly due to the neurosensory processing of the electrocutaneous stimuli.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

Psychophysiological responses to subliminal auditory suggestions for activation.

The aim of this study was to characterize further the experimental procedure proposed by Borgeat and Goulet in 1983. Subliminal activation auditory suggestions were expected to increase heart rate and skin conductance in presence of a stressing task. 20 subjects were alternately exposed to activating or neutral (random numbers) 25-dB suggestions masked by a 40-dB white noise. Analyses of variance and covariance indicated an effect of the activating suggestions on heart rate but not on skin conductance. Partly confirming previous results, the data support the reliability of heart rate and the importance of a stressing factor to reveal the effects of preconscious or subliminal stimulations.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Subliminal manipulation of smoking.

Subliminal advertising techniques have increased in usage and are commonly accepted, particularly regarding cigarette smoking. Considering the high cost of such subliminal methods, their use can be justified only by tangible results, measured by an increase in cigarette sales. The results of our studies confirm the physiological and psychological effects of subliminal stimulation that have already been reported in the specialized literature. Our research on smoking prevention led us to study the sophisticated advertising strategies used by the tobacco industry. We have shown that revealing the subliminal stimuli-at least the visual ones-is extremely useful for teenagers. The enlightened teenager becomes able to recognize the subliminal manipulation concealed in advertising, and the risk of becoming its victim. Such educational efforts have their merits, particularly at the school level.

Advertising↗
PubMed1978

Effects of subliminal and supraliminal stress on symptoms of anxiety.

Two experiments were carried out with volunteer subjects to test whether the subliminal viewing of emotive material induced anxiety and its associated bodily symptoms. In one experiment 24 subjects looked at anxiety-inducing words presented singly through a tachistoscope under supraliminal or subliminal conditions, and in the other study 50 subjects looked at a neutral and an emotive movie film under similar conditions. Subliminality was insured in the first experiment by reducing the duration of exposure and in the second by reducing the level of illumination. The results showed that ratings of anxiety were significantly increased under subliminal emotive conditions, and reduced following subliminal neutral exposure. Correlations between psychic and somatic symptoms of anxiety were significantly higher under supraliminal conditions compared with subliminal ones. The possible role of subliminal stimulation in investigating the psychic and somatic components of anxiety is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

The correspondence between attachment to parents and God: three experiments using subliminal separation cues.

Attachment theoretical studies have increased our understanding of the socioemotional foundations for religious development. However, because these studies have been correlational and based on self-reports, they are vulnerable to concerns of self-presentation bias and lack of basis for causal inference. Three subliminal stimulation experiments were therefore performed, where activation of the attachment system was attempted by way of unconsciously administered separation stimuli. In Experiments 1 and 3 (N = 29 and 89), the separation stimulus alluded to God, and in Experiment 2 (N = 47), it alluded to mother. Responses were moderated by perceived attachment history with parents in all experiments. Participants with secure histories increased in religious attachment behaviors, whereas those with insecure histories decreased following attachment system activation compared with control stimulation. There also were suggestions of experimental group increase in proximity seeking in relation to God. The main conclusion supports correspondence between internal working models of parents and God.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Stroop and mood/memory measures in the study of unconscious "oneness".

Adaptive behavior following subliminal stimulation with "Mommy and I are One" (MIO) is a poorly understood finding. Positive mood may explain adaptive behavior, but we replicated an earlier finding that effects can also include negative mood. Color naming in a Stroop paradigm was slower on "symbiosis" words (Cohen's d = .19 to .56). Perhaps a "oneness" structure if primed has different affective correlates in different participants.

Affect↗
PubMed2003

Persistent complex subliminal activation effects: first experimental observations.

A strong recent focus on unconscious processes has increased interest in subliminal stimulation and other experimental activation technologies. Five experiments using male and female university students (N = 365) were carried out to compare 5-ms exposures of "mommy and I" stimuli with 5-ms control stimulation. Measures of self-mother similarity and other variables taken 7-14 days after exposure were more strongly correlated among experimental participants. Such complex, persistent effects may follow when powerfully activating stimuli administered under wholly unconscious conditions provokes schematic processing of social information and behavioral confirmation. These scientifically exciting and ethically problematic findings imply a need for further reduction of the role accorded to conscious volition and control in psychology.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Effect of subliminal stimuli on consumer behavior: negative evidence.

The study corrected methodological weaknesses found in previous experiments designed to test the contentions of motivational research theorists that subliminal stimulation can affect buying behavior. The words "Hershey's Chocolate" were presented to a group of 18 experimental Ss below a forced-choice detection threshold. The 19 control Ss had a blank slide superimposed over the same background media. In a highly controlled buying situation neither experimental nor control Ss purchased Hershey's products, but on comparable chocolate products, the experimental Ss bought 5 and the control Ss, 3. A second study tested 15 experimental and 12 control Ss with the stimulus presented just below a recognition threshold. No experimental Ss bought Hershey's; two control Ss did. No support was found for the claims of motivational research theorists.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1978

Stress effects on affiliation preferences among subjects possessing the type A coronary-prone behavior pattern.

An experiment tested the hypothesis that when subjects who display the Type A coronary-prone behavior pattern are placed under stress, they prefer to wait for the stressful event with others, but desire to work under stress alone. One half of 25 Type A and 25 Type B (non-coronary-prone) subjects were told that they would receive painful electric shock while working on a mental task, while the other one half were told that they would receive subliminal stimulation. Both groups were then given the choice of waiting for the event with others or alone and the choice of working on the task alone, in the company of others, or in a leader-directed group. The results showed that Type As relative to Type Bs tended to wait in the company of others regardless of threat level, but displayed a marked preference to work alone under high threat. This decision to work alone was not influenced by waiting preference. Subsequent correlational studies showed that coronary patients (n = 40) reported a greater preference for working alone when under pressure than matched controls (n = 40), as did Type A college students (77% vs. 14% for Type Bs) when asked their preference within the context of the structured interview that is used to assess the Type A pattern. The significance of the findings for increasing the understanding of affiliative preferences and coronary-prone behavior are discussed.

Choice Behavior↗
PubMed1998

Alterations of motor cortical inhibition in patients with dystonia.

Cortical inhibitory mechanisms were investigated with the technique of paired transcranial magnetic stimulation in 10 patients with dystonia of the right arm: six patients had focal, task-specific dystonia (writer's cramp) and three had segmental and one had generalized dystonia. Paired stimuli were delivered in a conditioning-test design during slight voluntary activation of the target muscle, with subthreshold conditioning stimuli at short intervals (3-20 ms) and suprathreshold conditioning stimuli at long intervals (100-250 ms). The amount of inhibition at short interstimulus intervals did not differ significantly between patients and normal subjects. With long interstimulus intervals, patients showed more inhibition of the test response, which was significant at the 150-ms interval. The cortical silent period following a single suprathreshold magnetic stimulus was slightly shorter in patients. No significant difference was detected between the affected side and the unaffected side in patients with unilateral task-specific dystonia, neither in the duration of the silent period nor in the response to paired magnetic stimuli. These results indicate that the different types of motor cortical inhibition are produced by different inhibitory circuits. We propose that the alterations observed in patients with dystonia are the result of impaired feedback from the basal ganglia to motor cortical areas, with the ultimate effect of a flattening of the excitability curve of the cortical motoneuron pool during voluntary muscle activation.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Unconscious modulation of motor cortex excitability revealed with transcranial magnetic stimulation.

The neuronal effects of sensory events that do not enter conscious awareness have been reported in numerous pathological conditions and in normal subjects. In the present study, unconscious modulation of corticospinal excitability was probed in healthy volunteers with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were collected from the first dorsal interosseus muscle while subjects performed a masked semantic priming task that has been shown to elicit covert motor cortex activations. Our data show that the amplitude of the MEPs is modulated by an unseen prime, in line with temporal patterns revealed with event related potentials. These data confirm previous reports showing specific motor neural responses associated with an unseen visual stimulus and establish TMS as a valuable tool in the study of the neural correlates of consciousness.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Cerebral blood flow related to induction of a depressed mood within and out of the realm of attention in normal volunteers.

The effects of a depressed mood on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were measured after a mood-induction procedure (MIP) in normal volunteers. The MIPs were administered 'within the realm of attention' and 'out of the realm of attention'. A modified Velten procedure, which consisted of tape-recorded self-referent depressive statements, was used for mood induction. For the induction out of the realm of attention, a combination of dichotic listening and subliminal stimulation was used. A neutral induction procedure served as a control condition. CBF was measured with Tc-99m HMPAO single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with regard to 14 healthy female students. Scores on mood rating scales showed negative changes after both MIPs. Statistical analyses revealed lateralized changes in rCBF in the thalamus. Decreased thalamic CBF in the right hemisphere was demonstrated after both MIPs compared with the neutral induction condition. Moreover, hippocampal rCBF increased significantly, but only after induction out of the realm of attention. These findings suggest both hippocampal and thalamic involvement in the regulation of mood experience.

Adult↗