THE EFFECT OF HIGH INTENSITY INTERMITTENT STIMULI ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY
Abstract
Intermittent tones are judged as unpleasant or painful at lower intensity levels than steady tones and pain thresholds are related primarily to power per pulse rather than total energy in a series of pulses. Skin impedance characteristics varied widely with electrode location and females had significantly higher skin impedance than males. The impedance of the human skin decreased from 130 to 30 kohm as the frequency of the a-c input increased from 1 to 1000 cps. Phase angle also decreased over this frequency range. High intensity intermittent sound had no effect on mean heart, rate, blood pressure of skin temperature, but did produce a decrease in skin impedance which was linearly related to the intensity of stimulation. Using an EEG frequency analyzer, it was found in all subjects that 10 cps pulse rate inputs at auditory pain threshold produced a partial inhibition of the alpha rhythm. Maximum evoked responses to auditory clicks were obtained with monopolar leads over the motor area and the parietal area and evoked responses to flashes of light were quite different from those to auditory pulses. Stimulus intensity and repetition rate affected some characteristics of the evoked response and the simultaneous presentation of clicks and flashes of light changed the pattern of the response. Comparing photic stimulation, audio stimulation, hyperventilation, electric shock and condition, results showed that photic stimulation produced the maximum decrease in percent time alpha, but the effect was mainly an on-off one. Heart rate decreases occurred during photic stimulation and during the weak auditory CS, findings which seem consistent with Lacey's concept of 'environmental intake.'
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0673970
Entities
People
- Robert Plutchik
Organizations
- Hofstra University