The Effects of Discrimination Training on Voluntary Control of Cephalic Vasomotor Activity

The present study was conducted to test Brener's calibration theory of visceral learning. It was hypothesized that training in discrimination of cephalic vasomotor responses would enhance acquisition of voluntary and biofeedback control of cephalic vasomotor response. Four groups were given discrimination training to detect either constriction, dilation, both constriction and dilation, or given false feedback. All groups were then given biofeedback training in constriction. All groups were assessed on discrimination accuracy, acquisition of biofeedback control of constriction, and voluntary control of dilation and constriction. The results indicated that discrimination of cephalic vasomotor responses can be learned and that this skill facilitates the acquisition of biofeedback and voluntary control of vasomotor responses. This facilitation occurs only if discrimination training is given for the specific response to be learned. The data suggest that discrimination of the relevant response is a necessary but not sufficient condition for acquisition of voluntary control in biofeedback learning.     

Heart Rate Biofeedback and Cold Pressor Pain

This study addressed the relative contributions of self-regulated heart rate change and belief that heart rate is changing in an instructed direction to the perception of cold pressor pain. Forty male volunteers were each assigned to one of four combinations of increase or decrease heart rate instructions and increase or decrease feedback conditions. Subjects were given an initial 45-sec cold pressor test, 25 feedback trials, and a final cold pressor in which they were told to change their heart rate in the instructed direction, but without the aid of feedback. Subjects were instructed specifically that increased heart rate was associated with increased pain and decreased heart rate with decreased pain. The veridical groups (consistent instructions and feedback) showed appropriate heart rate changes during biofeedback training and parallel changes in heart rate and pain perception during the final cold pressor. The non-veridical (reverse) feedback groups showed no heart rate change during biofeedback training and no relationship between heart rate and pain perception changes during the final cold pressor test. EMG, respiration, and skin conductance data are presented, and several mechanisms are proposed to explain the physiological and subjective changes.     

A Case Study of Scientists'' Opinions about the Regulations of their Work: Opinions of the Members of the Society for Psychophysiological Research about the Regulation of Biofeedback Research and Technology

A survey of members of the Society for Psychophysiological Research showed that most members responding foresaw both applications and problems associated with the development of biofeedback research and technology. It also showed that most respondents would not favor legislation regulating biofeedback work or public monitoring of it, but would favor public involvement in decision making in the face of its misuse. Although there was a consensus that biofeedback's treatment in the media is too sensationalistic, opinion was divided between those advocating less publicity as a remedy and those advocating improved working relations with the press and better educating the public. Age, source of research funds, and professional orientation were significantly related to respondents' opinions more than other background and work context variables. These relationships are discussed.     

盆底肌功能失调型便秘的生物反馈治疗及护理

目的:探讨盆底功能失调型便秘生物反馈治疗及护理疗效.方法:总结30例盆底功能失调型便秘的生物反馈治疗及护理资料.结果:24例肛管直肠压力测定示直肠感觉阈值,最大耐受容量,直肠肛门抑制反射较治疗前降低,盆底肌的反常收缩消失,恢复正常排便;4例排便次数,排便不尽感,肛门坠胀感较治疗前有所改善,有效率为93.33%,2例无效.结论:盆底肌功能失调型便秘的生物反馈治疗配合相应护理得当近期疗效满意,它具有相对非侵入性,易忍受,费用低,无需住院等优点,其远期疗效值有待于进一步观察.     

A Proposed Feedback Method For Studying the Inhibition of EEG Responses to Visual Stimuli

A new method for studying inhibition of an electroencephalographic component of the OR to visual stimuli is described. The EEG response is suppression of the occipital alpha following visual stimulation. By a controlled feedback contingency, two stimuli are made to occur in sequence with a controlled time delay after the onset of alpha in the EEG. Inhibition is defined as a lack of EEG response to the first stimulus followed by a response to the second, delayed stimulus. Because the stimuli are feedback with regard to the occurrence of alpha, the dynamics of the alpha - alpha suppression system are different when a response is made to the first stimulus (elicitation of OR to first stimulus) compared to not responding to the first stimulus but responding to the second delayed stimulus (inhibition of OR to the first stimulus).     

Intersession Interval and Reductions in Frontalis EMG During Biofeedback Training

Subjects were given practice in reducing frontalis EMG using biofeedback procedures with either Short, Medium, or Long intervals between practice sessions. After 10 sessions there were significant differences among the groups in decreasing EMG amplitude.     

综合康复治疗对急性脑血管病肢体功能的影响

采用肌电生物反馈及经皮神经电刺激疗法，配合肢体被动功能训练，对６８例急性脑血管病者进行早期康复干预，采用Ｂｒｕｎｎｓｔｒｏｍ法，Ｌｅｖｅｅｔ肌力６级法，关节活动范围等进行肢体功能综合评定。结果发现患者肢体运动功能明显改善，总有效率分别为９０％和６１．１％，两者间有显著差异（Ｐ〈０．０１）。说明早期健康干预对急性脑血管病体肢运动功能的恢复有相当重要的作用，治病效果与治疗开始时间，治疗技术，病人的意识     

Pharmacological and behavioral treatment of pediatric migraine and tension-type headache

The problem concerning the treatment of pediatric headache has been the object of several recent reports. Some of the same medications used to treat adult headache problems are also utilized with children but usually at smaller dosages and in different combinations. The recent application of behavioral approaches, in particular biofeedback, for treatment of children’s headaches has been an effective alternative to drugs without the problematic and dangerous side effects of pharmacological treatments. The purpose of this review is to give some indications about the most common pharmacological therapies for migraine and tension-type headache in children, and also to discuss the use of behavioral therapies, in particular biofeedback, as excellent alternatives to drugs.     

Vergence can be controlled by audio feedback,and induces downward ocular deviation

We measured horizontal and vertical eye positions, using binocular search coils, in three humans. Subjects could maintain vergence by means of audio biofeedback. Feedback consisted of a pair of audio tones, one variable and one fixed at a reference frequency. The variable tone was controlled by instantaneous vergence and provided immediate feedback on the vergence state. The reference frequency, which they attempted to match, was set to correspond to a target distance of either 0.34 m or 0.14 m. Subjects could maintain vergence consistently, even while undergoing lateral motions at 0.5 Hz and 0.2 g peak acceleration in darkness. There was also a consistent tendency for the eyes to deviate downward during near vergence. The results may be useful in experiments in which one wishes to control vergence without providing a visual reference which might inhibit conjugate eye movements.     

肢体阻抗生物反馈仪的研制

本文介绍一种新型肢体阻抗生物反馈仪。该仪器应用四电极法从人体检测出肢体阻抗血流图，应用ＭＣＳ－５１单片机对每一个心动周期实时计算出变动阻抗峰峰值ΔＺｐｐ和心动周期时间Ｔ。用ΔＺｐｐ和Ｔ控制一组视觉和听觉反馈信号。