唤醒定义探析及其认知神经生理基础

An investigation into the definition of arousal and its cognitive neurophysiological basis

唤醒是衡量机体清醒程度和做出反应前准备程度的指标,其水平可从睡眠到觉醒的连续体上变化,具有独特的生理机制与神经回路。由于唤醒与情绪关联密切,唤醒度这个概念常被认为等同于情绪强度,但情绪强度实际上是唤醒和效价的和向量。受到Lazarus提出的“刺激”定义情绪思想的启发,对唤醒的内含和心理机制进行了探析,发现对不符合预期刺激出现的紧急准备是唤醒系统的主要功能,预期性相关机制是唤醒的重要认知加工机制。其它因素(刺激属性、个体差异等)可能存在以下影响唤醒的原因:改变处理刺激时所需的资源量、影响预期机制。未来研究可从心理唤醒与生理唤醒的关系、唤醒的测量方法、唤醒度与情绪强度的关系、人类临床精神疾病的唤醒特征等角度推动唤醒的基础和应用研究。

Arousal is a measurement of body’s wakefulness, reflecting the strengthened preparation for external stimulus input. Its level changes on the continuum from sleep to provocation, and has unique physiological mechanisms and neural circuits. As arousal is closely related to emotions, many researchers take arousal as a substitute for emotional intensity, but emotional intensity should be the vector addition of arousal and valence. Inspired by Lazarus’ argument that stimuli define emotions, this article explores the connotation and psychological mechanism of arousal. We hold that the emergency preparation for unexpected stimuli is the main function of arousal system, and anticipation and its related mechanisms are the major cognitive mechanisms of arousal. Other factors(stimulus attributes, individual differences, etc.)affects the number of resources that the individual needs to process the stimulus. Besides, the degree of individual expectations can be affected. As a result, these factors also affect the level of arousal. Future researchers may further promote basic and applied research on arousal from the aspects of the relationship between psychological arousal and physical arousal, the measurement method of arousal, the relationship between arousal and emotional intensity, and the characteristics of arousal in human clinical mental illness.