Entries categorized as Psychophysiology

Brain-Controlled Cursor Doubles As A Neural Workout When Hooked Up To A Computer

On February 20, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Neuroscience, News / 1 Comment

Brain Image - University of WashingtonHarnessing brain signals to control keyboards, robots, or prosthetic devices is an active area of medical research. Now a rare peek at a human brain hooked up to a computer shows that the two can adapt to each other quickly, and possibly to the brain’s benefit. Researchers at the University of Washington looked at signals on the brain’s surface while using imagined movements to control a cursor. Check the end of this review for a link to download the original study. (continue reading)

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Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) Annual Conference 2010

On February 20, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Professional Training / 4 Comments

The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) will hold its annual conference on March 24-27, 2010 in San Diego, California. This year’s conference theme is “Personalized Medicine in the Age of Technology: Psychophysiology and Health.” (continue reading)

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Brain Dopamine Receptor Density Correlates With Social Status

On February 12, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Neuroscience / No Comments

People have typically viewed the benefits that accrue with social status primarily from the perspective of external rewards. A new paper in the February 1st issue of Biological Psychiatry, published by Elsevier suggests that there are internal rewards as well. Dr. Martinez and colleagues found that increased social status and increased social support correlated with the density of dopamine D2/D3 receptors in the striatum, a region of the brain that plays a central role in reward and motivation, where dopamine plays a critical role in both of these behavioral processes. (continue reading)

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Diaphragm Mediates Action of Autonomic and Enteric Nervous Systems

On January 8, 2010 / By Stephen Elliott / In Featured, Psychophysiology / No Comments

The relationship between the diaphragm and corresponding actions of the heart and lungs is well established. In this article, we’ll review that relationship as well as explore the diaphragm’s little recognized role in abdominal function.

As the diaphragm moves down (inhalation) the volume of the thoracic cavity increases, the pressure in the thoracic cavity becomes more negative, and the lungs fill with air from the conducting airways leading from the nose and mouth and blood from the venous tree and right heart. There, blood and air meet across the extremely thin alveolar surface to effect gas exchange – oxygen for carbon dioxide. During inhalation, heart rate increases to speed filling of the low pressure environment of the lungs via the right heart and to prevent a precipitous fall in arterial pressure while the lungs store a large volume of blood – on the order of 500+ ml. (continue reading)

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Blood Wave/Heart Rate Super-Synchrony: A New Measure of Cardiopulmonary Resonance

On December 20, 2009 / By Stephen Elliott / In Psychophysiology / No Comments

“Resonance” is the tendency of any physical system to oscillate. The frequency at which it oscillates is that at which it is optimally efficient. The pendulum of a clock is a simplest example. The pendulum swings back and forth at its resonant frequency which is determined in large part by its mass and its length. The physical system discussed here is the human cardio-pulmonary system consisting of the lungs, the left heart, the arterial tree, the capillary bed, the venous tree, the right heart, and coming full circle, the lungs. This is the primary course that the blood takes as it circulates through the body. (more…)

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From Sudan – A Story of Coherent Breathing and PTSD

On December 4, 2009 / By Stephen Elliott / In PTSD, Psychophysiology / No Comments

women_breathing_newsletters_pageFrom the Coherence Newsletter, written by guest contributor Ellen Ratner, White House Correspondent and Bureau Chief for The Talk Radio News Service, author, and Fox News contributor.

In March 2008, I along with other talk show hosts, was invited by Christian Solidarity International to visit Sudan on a humanitarian mission. Being very impressed with their work and continued dedication to freeing people in slavery after a catastrophic 22 year civil war, I was glad to have the opportunity to participate. (more…)

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An Overview Of Brain Stimulation Therapies

On December 1, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In CES, Deep Brain Stimulation / No Comments

NIH_VNS2Brain stimulation therapies have received increased attention as of late. These treatments involve activating or touching the brain directly with electricity, magnets, or implants to treat depression and other disorders. One type of brain stimulation, Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES), was previously detailed in “What is CES?” Part 1 and Part 2. BMED Report even created an “Electromedicine” category in our recommended books section. In the current article, several other brain stimulation therapies are detailed. Electroconvulsive therapy is the most researched stimulation therapy and has the longest history of use. Other stimulation therapies discussed here — vagus nerve stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, magnetic seizure therapy, and deep brain stimulation—are newer, more experimental methods. (more…)

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An Introduction To Coherent Breathing

On November 29, 2009 / By Stephen Elliott / In Psychophysiology / No Comments

coherence_newletters_march09_smallIt has been known for thousands of years that breathing is key to health, performance, and longevity. We are just beginning to understand why − breathing has much to do with “circulation,” both quantity and quality. Typically, when we are at rest, blood in the body circulates once each minute; when we are exercising this can increase to six times per minute (Medical Physiology, Guyton & Hall, 2002). (more…)

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The “Whole Valsalva Wave” (The Coherence Newsletter)

On October 17, 2009 / By Stephen Elliott / In Psychophysiology / No Comments

coherence_newsletter_july09_coverI am excited to share with you an important biometric that we are able to observe with Valsalva Wave Pro, the new Coherence instrument. I am presently calling this biometric the “whole Valsalva Wave,” whole because it provides us with a much more complete view of what the blood is doing, including respiratory, heart beat, and vascular components, than traditional heart rate variability (HRV) measures. (more…)

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The Behavioral Medicine Report To Republish Select Editions Of The Coherence Newsletter

On October 16, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In News / No Comments

coherence_newsletter_exampleI am pleased to announce that The Behavioral Medicine Report will republish select editions of the Coherence Newsletter. Best selling author, researcher, noted presenter, and all around nice guy Stephen Elliott writes and publishes The Coherence Newsletter. His monthly writings cover very interesting research-based and theoretical aspects of the mind-body-heart connection, including heart rate variability (HRV), valsalva wave, deep breathing, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and more. Stephen’s writings will be edited to fit the format of this website; however, a link to the original newsletter will always accompany each article. (more…)

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“MOST-EEG” Gives New 3-D Perspective On Brain Activities

On September 12, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In QEEG / No Comments

eegUniversity of Victoria (UVic) researcher Phil Zeman has developed a new and less expensive procedure for analyzing EEG (electroencephalogram) data that identifies the location of special brain activities. Traditionally, it is functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) that is used to identify which areas of the brain are active during different mental states. Zeman’s technology is an inexpensive alternative to fMRI—$100,000 versus several million dollars. It also requires little maintenance and can be used in an ordinary laboratory or office. (more…)

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Human Energy Fields And Their Positive (Or Negative) Social And Emotional Influence

On September 5, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Psychophysiology / No Comments

electrical_field_blueHeartmath researchers report that humans continuously emit energy fields into their environment that can have positive or negative psychophysiological consequences for persons who enter them. The heart is a major source of these electrical fields, but thoughts, attitudes, and emotions also make an important contribution. Amazing too is that these electrical fields can be detected by others up to 5 feet away. This gives new meaning to “I feel your vibe” or sensing “negative energy” from those near you. A reasonable hypothesis derived from this data is that a healthcare provider’s electrical field may be an important process variable in treatment outcome – more on this later. Although the original study was published in 1998, Heartmath recently posted an easy to read summary that I hope our readers will enjoy. Check the end of this review for links to the online Heartmath summary and to download a PDF of the original 1998 study. (more…)

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Researcher Seeks Married Couples for Interpersonal Biofeedback Study

On August 22, 2009 / By Steven Kassel / In Biofeedback / No Comments

kassel_studyResearch trials have begun on an innovative research project which examines the additive therapeutic effect of two existing evidence-based techniques, marital therapy and biofeedback. Steven C. Kassel, a Marriage and Family Therapist who has been certified in Biofeedback since 1985, designed a way to combine both therapies which typically are not used together. Working with Thought Technology, the leading manufacturer of biofeedback hardware and software, a screen which displays 5 channels of physiology along with audio and video feedback is at the core of this project. Additional participants (i.e., married couples) are needed to enroll in this 10 week research project which is being conducted in West Los Angeles and Santa Clarita, CA. Early results of a small sample are promising. (more…)

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Barry Sterman Discusses Neurofeedback At An Interview With New York Public Radio

On August 22, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Neurofeedback, News / No Comments

newspaperDr. M. Barry Sterman, along with Dr. Sarah H. Lisanby, discuss neurofeedback and other brain imaging and treatment modalities during a live interview on WNYC.org public radio. The radio segment entitled, “Please Explain: Neurofeedback,” is streamed online at no cost. Check the end of this report for a link to this interview. (more…)

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A Brief History of Transcendental Meditation (Wild Divine)

On August 10, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Meditation / No Comments

meditation_rainbowThe good folks over at Wild Divine recently posted “A Brief History of Transcendental Meditation” and gave us permission to republish the article. I thought our valued readers might appreciate additional coverage of meditative techniques given the popularity of the recent Integrative Body-Mind Training, Nature Exposure, and Mindfulness: A Review of Attention State Training Techniques by Mark Johnson. (more…)

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