The heart rate component of the social reflex in dogs: The conditional effects of petting and person

Five dogs were given a 480-cps tone followed by shock for more than 200 trials. A 200-cps tone was then introduced followed by a person petting the dog at the end of the conditional signal (CS) for 50 trials. Finally, the 480-cps tone-shock (T-S) sequence was reintroduced for five trials, after which the person entered the experimental room and stood beside the dog during one additional T-S sequence. It was observed that both the heart rate (HR) increase to shock, and the HR decrease to petting could be conditioned rapidly (1–5 trials). These findings are discussed in terms of the theory of stimulus substitution in classical HR conditioning. After the person had been made part of a CS for petting, and the T-S sequence reintroduced, the HR increase during the CS was reduced. The HR response to the shock, however, was greater than the response to this US when the dog was alone. A control group, given the same T-S sequence with a person present who had not been a CS for petting, did not show any significant HR changes from the usual response given to the T-S sequence. It is emphasized that these findings, in conjunction with earlier reports, indicate that the cardiovascular system may be a valuable index in studying the psychophysiology of socialization processes.     

The history of a catatonic dog

This article is a condensed life-history of a dog (“V3”) born and reared in the Pavlovian Laboratory and studied until his death in 1961. A detailed study was made of his pathologic development, his relations to people, and the effects of drugs. Measurements recorded were heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, 24-hour activity, sexual reflexes, general behavior. Although early experiments were done chiefly for recording and were not considered noxious or traumatic, this dog’s general development and symptoms seem to have been “constitutionally” rather than environmentally determined. His external behavior was strikingly similar to that of a catatonic patient-flexibilitas cerea, general immobility. Of particular interest was the “Effect of Person”: in the presence of all humans who confronted him he showed catatonic postures, cardiovascular disorders (tachycardia up to 200 beats/min., bradycardia to 12 beats/min., drop of blood pressure from 150 to 75 mm Hg, arrest of heart-beat for as long as 8 seconds), moribund poses. His response to drugs illustrated the specificity to a definite “constitutional type”: sexual activity markedly increased by alcohol and rarely present except after administration of alcohol; no improvement after administration of tranquilizers, except alcohol and meprobamate, which made him act like a normal dog in behavior and in relations to people. His symptoms and reactions to both people and drugs were generally opposite to those of another dog, “Nick”, studied over his life span: Nick showed excessive activity in physiologic systems; hyperactivity (running); generally, improvement through “Effect of Person”; sexual inhibition with alcohol. Observations of the two dogs suggest that symptoms as well as reactions to drugs are the result of the “type” rather than the procedure used, that perhaps psychopathologic symptoms are due more to inborn constitution than to “conflict” (“collision”) between excitation and inhibition, and that neurotic or psychotic symptoms may not interfere with longevity-Nick lived to be 14 years old and died fighting; V3, who also spent most of his life in the laboratory, died at the age of 14.     

Pavlov’s “higher nervous activity”

The term higher nervous activity was introduced by Pavlov about 1909 to replace what he previously called “psychical” or “mental.” In Russia “higher nervous activity” is now used for what we often designate as psychophysiological or psychosomatic. “Higher nervous activity” was not a synonym in Pavlov’s use for psychical or mental; it indicates what physiology can deal with and measure as opposed to our subjective feelings and representations. The philosophical differences underlying Pavlov’s concepts, as well as the philosophical basis for distinguishing between what we measure physically and the subjective correlates, are discussed.     

Blood flow,blood pressure and heart rate changes accompanying hind leg flexion in conditional and unconditional reflexes

Results

During flexion of the hind leg to US or CS, as well as during spontaneous lifting of the leg, the blood flow in the appropriate femoral artery suddenly increases for 10–14 seconds, systemic blood pressure shows transient decrease, while heart rate and respiratory movements are accelerated. To perform one flexion and subsequent extension about 7 ml extra blood flow is necessary during UR and 5 ml during CR. During acute extinction of the CR the described vegetative changes become less and less, parallel with the gradual decrease of flexor movement of the hind leg. The sequence of extinction of the individual measured parameters was as follows: flexion, blood pressure, blood flow, heart rate, and lastly, respiration. In the mechanism of the vegetative changes accompanying the conditional hind leg flexion three main components are involved: (1) muscular-visceral reflexes originating from different receptors of the contracting muscles, (2) the emotional changes, and (3) the conditional component as a separate conditional reflex for each measured parameter. Principles underlying the formation of conditional reflexes are discussed under the headings ofschizokinesis, peripheral andcentral stimulations.Organ responsibility is the basis for the formation of the conditional reflex.