Affective reactivity in language: the role of psychophysiological arousal

Several studies have found that individuals with schizophrenia and their relatives, as well as healthy controls, exhibit greater language disturbance when discussing affectively negative as compared to positive or neutral topics. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that negative emotion impairs language production, at least in part by increasing physiological arousal. The authors had 35 healthy adults produce speech in response to affectively negative, positive, and neutral questions while the authors recorded heart rate and skin conductance. Participants displayed greater amounts of reference errors, higher heart rates, and a higher frequency of nonspecific skin conductance responses when discussing affectively negative as compared to positive or neutral topics.     

A tether system for psychophysiological studies in the dog

A system for monitoring blood pressure or other physiological variables in the unanesthetized and chronically instrumented dog is described. An indwelling catheter attaches to a pressure transducer affixed to the underside of a leather shield, which snaps onto a custom-fitted leather vest worn by the dog. The transducer cable ascends vertically through a hollow, flexible, stainless steel tether, which is attached at the lower end to the leather shield and at the upper end to a fluid and electrical swivel. The swivel is attached to an overhead counterbalanced boom assembly, which moves in concert with the dog, maintaining a constant minimal tension on the tether. The boom assembly is attached to a wall plate via a universal joint approximately 7 ft above floor level. Dogs can be maintained comfortably in this system 24 h/day over periods of months, with freedom of posture and movement, including rotational behavior. The system is economical to construct and provides versatile stimulation and record-ing capability and reliable long-term performance.     

Behavior of depressed subjects in problem solving groups

This study investigated leadership selection in groups in relation to level of depression of group members. On the basis of MMPI-D and DACL scores 66 subjects were organized into groups of six to eight people consisting of all depressed, all nondepressed, or half depressed and half nondepressed subjects. Subjects performed a problem solving task alone and in groups and completed a questionnaire on leadership choice and group performance. Results indicate that nondepressed group members talked more frequently, were rated as more important contributors, and were selected as leaders more frequently than depressed members. In addition, mixed groups were perceived as more efficient and enjoyable by group members than the unmixed groups. There were no significant differences between depressed and nondepressed subjects on performance of the problem solving task whether working alone or in groups. Results were discussed in relation to other literature on the interpersonal behavior of depressed persons.     

Elevated emotional reactivity in affective but not cognitive components of theory of mind: A psychophysiological study

Recent research proposes that theory of mind (ToM), that is the ability to infer other people's mental state, is a multidimensional construct and that a distinction may be made between affective and cognitive ToM. We examined whether these two subcomponents of ToM correspond to different levels in skin conductance responses (SCRs). Seventeen healthy adults listened to ten affective (faux pas) ToM stories, ten cognitive ToM stories and ten non‐ToM stories. Results demonstrated significantly elevated SCR for affective ToM as compared with cognitive ToM and control stories, with no differences in SCR levels in the latter two story types. We discuss the possible underlying mechanisms for these differential psychophysiological correlates of affective and cognitive ToM processing, and suggest further investigations especially in clinical populations.     

Importance of countertransference in the initial psychoanalytic interview]

The author points out the responsibilities and difficulties an interviewer faces in the initial psychoanalytic interview and discusses different theoretical positions in dealing with countertransference. Apart from "free floating attention" and "free floating responsiveness" he emphasizes the important diagnostic and therapeutic factor of "free floating introspectiveness". Finally, with a clinical example, he demonstrates that countertransference should already be taking place at the beginning stage of an interview.     

近现代中国西南少数民族宗教研究述论

近代以来外国旅行家、传教士、学者,纷纷进入中国西南少数民族地区考察。20世纪20-40年代,中国人类学界者开始对西南少数民族进行科学研究,西南少数民族丰富的宗教文化遗存,是近现代国内外研究者考察关注的热点问题。本文对近现代西南少数民族宗教考察研究的成果进行回顾性的评述,认为中国人类学者投身于西南少数民族宗教研究的学术精神,值得21世纪的中国民族宗教研究者汲取弘扬。     

Dominance and aggression in various sized groups of red deer stags

The influence of group size on agonistic behaviour of “white” red deer stags (Cervus elophus L.) of different ranks in the hierarchy was examined during artificial feeding. Size of the social group was dependent on the season in the year and on age and general rank within the whole bachelor group inhabiting the enclosure of the stags. Group size differentially affected the behaviour of the stags according to the rank of the individual in the particular groups. Increased group size resulted in increased agonistic activity in top-ranking stags. The number of attacks directed towards bottom-ranking stags by other group members was also elevated. Stags of intermediate rank position showed a decrease in the number of interactions involved and a suppression of agonistic activity.     

Patterns of psychophysiological change in the treatment of agoraphobia

Patterns of change and synchrony were studied in a group of 26 agoraphobics under-going a 12-week treatment program. Clinical, behavioral, physiological and subjective measures were taken at pre-, 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment and at 1-month follow-up.Clinically and statistically significant changes were found in all response systems and our results tentatively suggest that the order of change starts with behavioral and clinical measures followed by psychophysiological measures of which psysiological responsivity has the longest lag.Although the group as a whole changed synchronously, there was evidence of individual desynchrony between physiological and subjective measures of anxiety. The most common form this look was for SUDS to decline while heart rate increased. A closer look at desynchrony in the various time sequences revealed that both the form and occurrence of desynchrony vary according to phase of treatment and that time interval between assessment points might-be of crucial importance in the determination of synchrony-desynchrony.     

In vitro studies to elucidate the fibrinolytic activity in cerebrospinal fluid altered by inflammation and hemorrhage and having pathologic protein values]

Using selectively immunological methods, it was possible, through FSP determination, for plasmin activities and plasminogen concentrations to be occasionally and exclusively detected in inflammatorily altered liquores and in bloody liquores, respectively. Thus, bloody cerebrospinal fluid, in contrast with inflammatorily altered liquor, usually shows free fibrinolytic activity, so that antifibrinolytic therapy of intracranial aneurysmal hemorrhage is pathophysiologically justifiable.