Psychophysiological Effects of Bamboo Plants on Adults

The present study was conducted to clarify the psychophysiological relaxation effects of viewing bamboo on university students. Forty healthy Chinese participants enrolled in this study to clarify the psychophysiological relaxation effects of viewing bamboo. The effects of visual stimulation using a pot both with and without a bamboo were recorded by measuring the student＇s blood pressure, EEG and STAI. We observed that viewing bamboo plants resulted in significantly lower systolic（female, P 〈 0.001; male, P 〈 0.001; P 〈 0.05） and diastolic（female,P 〈 0.001; male, P 〈 0.001; P 〈 0.05） blood pressures, but no changes in the pulse rate（female, P = 0.09; male, P = 0.07; P 〉 0.05） were observed. The results of the EEG analysis indicated brainwave variation（all P 〈 0.05） and lower anxiety scores（P 〈 0.01） after 3 min of viewing bamboo compared with the control. These findings indicate that visual stimulation with bamboo plants induced psychophysiological relaxation effects on adults.

Using Vibraimage Technology to Analyze the Psychophysiological State of a Person during Opposite Stimuli Presentation

The vibraimage technology is applied to evaluate the multiple intelligences by presenting the line-opposite stimuli. The analysis of testing results of 161 and 91 first-year students from two technical universities, St. Petersburg, Russia, is presented. A new method has been introduced for the assessment of the level of introversion and extraversion of a person being tested. Various equations for calculating the psychophysiological state have been studied and common patterns of the psychophysiological responses to the stimuli were revealed. The experiments showed a prevailing negative correlation between the parameters of a person’s energy consumption and information exchange detected by the vibraimage technology. The article discusses the possibility of extending the obtained results to other psychophysiological tests.

Psychophysiological Effects of a Combination of Sideritis and Bacopa Extract (memoLoges®) in 32 Subjects Suffering from Mild Cognitive Impairment. A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, 2-Armed Study with Parallel Design

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can be regarded as a non-demented transitional stage during the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Early recognition of this stage might increase the chance of prevention by early treatment. Within a pilot study, two plant-derived preparations and mixtures thereof were tested successfully in subjects suffering from MCI. A combination of Sideritis scardica and Bacopa monnieri extract (memoLoges®) was chosen now for a repetitive dosing during 4 weeks. Thirty-two subjects aged 50 to 80 years and suffering from MCI (having a DemTect questionnaire score between 8 and 13) were recruited for intake of 2 capsules of the preparation per day. Quantitative EEG recording during relaxation and concomitant performance of three 5 minutes lasting psychometric tests (d2-concentration test, arithmetic calculation test and memory test) was achieved at the first day and one day after the last repetitive intake. Seventeen channels of EEG and one channel EOG (for artefact rejection) were recorded. After frequency analysis (FFT) current source density was calculated as reported earlier. One, two and three hours after intake of the herbal extract or placebo the whole procedure was repeated. Brain imaging was achieved by conversion of numerical values of spectral EEG power into spectral colors and additive color mixture according to RGB as used in TV settings. Intake of memoLoges® induced a trend of improvement of performance in psychometric testing (all three tests). During relaxation quantitative assessment of EEG data revealed attenuation of delta and theta spectral power in frontal brain as likewise reported in the presence of the Alzheimer drug rivastigmine, bringing the spectrum back to “normality”. During mental work memoLoges® induced statistically significant increases of beta power. Since MCI subjects produce less beta power in comparison to healthy subjects, this increase must likewise be seen as a positive effect pointing to a healthier spectrum.

Psychophysiological Effects of Zembrin®Using Quantitative EEG Source Density in Combination with Eye-Tracking in 60 Healthy Subjects. A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, 3-Armed Study with Parallel Design

The endemic South African succulent plant Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N.E. Br., family Mesembryathemaceae, is known as kanna in Nama, kougoed in Afrikaans, and sceletium in English. The plant has been used as a tea and as a masticatory for millennia by indigenous San hunter-gatherers and Nama pastoralists for endurance and well-being. It has been reported that the plant “gives strength to their limbs, and takes away pain, and makes their memory strong”. The current investigation aimed at the psychophysiological characterization of 25.0 and 50.0 mg of a special extract marketed as Zembrin® in comparison to placebo using a new methodology called “EnkephaloVision”. This combination of EEG Neurocode-Tracking and Eye-Tracking allows for concomitant analysis of time epochs of only 364 ms duration. Spectral EEG analysis during cognitive and emotional challenges revealed statistically significant increases of delta (p < 0.01 during arithmetic calculation and watching a boring animal video) and theta spectral power (p < 0.10 during these same challenges) in the presence of Zembrin® within the frontal brain. It is these same increases of slow waves in the frontal brain that are described in the literature during performance of mental tests. This indicates a positive effect of Zembrin® on the electrical activity of the brain during cognitive processing. In addition, alpha1 and alpha2 spectral power in the frontal brain was increased during several challenges including brain teasing, arithmetic calculations and performance of a memory test. From the literature, increases of spectral alpha1 power indicate a greater degree of calmness and may represent decreased depressive symptoms, while increases in alpha2 waves have been related to memory. Beta2 waves increased during mental performance in the presence of the higher dosage of Zembrin® in parietal, occipital and temporal brain regions. In comparison to placebo, Zembrin® induced frequency changes in the brain, which have been related to enhanced attention and memory. These results may represent a positive action of Zembrin® on cognitive and emotional processes in the brain.

Revealing driver psychophysiological response to emergency braking in distracted driving based on field experiments

Purpose–The purpose of this paper is to characterize distracted driving by quantifying the response time and response intensity to an emergency stop using the driver’s physiological states.Design/methodology/approach–Field tests with 17 participants were conducted in the connected and automated vehicle test field.All participants were required to prioritize their primary driving tasks while a secondary nondriving task was asked to be executed.Demographic data,vehicle trajectory data and various physiological data were recorded through a biosignalsplux signal data acquisition toolkit,such as electrocardiograph for heart rate,electromyography for muscle strength,electrodermal activity for skin conductance and force-sensing resistor for braking pressure.Findings–This study quantified the psychophysiological responses of the driver who returns to the primary driving task from the secondary nondriving task when an emergency occurs.The results provided a prototype analysis of the time required for making a decision in the context of advanced driver assistance systems or for rebuilding the situational awareness in future automated vehicles when a driver’s take-over maneuver is needed.Originality/value–The hypothesis is that the secondary task will result in a higher mental workload and a prolonged reaction time.Therefore,the driver states in distracted driving are significantly different than in regular driving,the physiological signal improves measuring the brake response time and distraction levels and brake intensity can be expressed as functions of driver demographics.To the best of the authors’knowledge,this is the first study using psychophysiological measures to quantify a driver’s response to an emergency stop during distracted driving.

Relationship between life satisfaction and sympathovagal balance in healthy elderly males at home at night

The aim of this study is to clarify how well-being correlates with autonomic nervous system (sympathovagal) balance in healthy elderly males at home at night awake and resting. The RR-interval and body acceleration of 39 healthy elderly male subjects were recorded with an ambulatory device for 72 hours. The normalized high-frequency (0.15 - 0.4 Hz) power (HFnu) of RR-interval variability (sympathovagal balance index) was calculated from 10 min long data sets that satisfied all of the following conditions: 1) average body acceleration was less than 30 mG, 2) the subject was at home, 3) the subject was awake, and 4) more than 95 percent of the time-series of instantaneous heart rate was within 40 to 160 [bpm]. Subjects recorded their subjective well-being level, including life satisfaction level, on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) questionnaire. We investigated the correlation between the subjective well-being level and mean HFnu. A significant negative correlation between life satisfaction level and mean HFnu (r = –0.47, p = 0.004) was observed. This result implies that sympathovagal balance becomes the predominant state of the sympathetic nervous system in healthy elderly males with relatively high life satisfaction while at home at night awake and resting.

Fear of COVID-19 and emotional dysfunction problems:Intrusive,avoidance and hyperarousal stress as key mediators

BACKGROUND There is mounting empirical evidence of the detrimental effects of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)outbreak on mental health.Previous research has underscored the effects of similar destabilizing situations such as war,natural disasters or other pandemics on acute stress levels which have been shown to exacerbate current and future psychopathological symptoms.AIM To explore the role of acute stress responses(intrusive,avoidance and hyperarousal)as mediators in the association between fear of COVID-19 and emotional dysfunction-related problems:Depression,agoraphobia,panic,obsessivecompulsive,generalized anxiety,social anxiety and health anxiety symptoms.METHODS A sample of 439 participants from a university community in Spain(age:mean±SD:36.64±13.37;73.1%females)completed several measures assessing their fear of COVID-19,acute stress responses and emotional dysfunction syndromes through an online survey.Data collection was carried out from the start of home confinement in Spain until May 4,2020,coinciding with initial de-escalation measures.Processing of the dataset included descriptive and frequency analyses,Mann-Whitney U Test of intergroup comparisons and path analysis for direct and indirect effects.This is an observational,descriptive-correlational and crosssectional study.RESULTS The prevalence of clinical symptoms in our sample,reported since the beginning of the pandemic,reached 31.44%.The female group presented higher scores although the effect size was small.Overall,the participants who exceeded the clinical cut-off points in emotional problems showed higher levels of fear of COVID-19 and of cognitive,motor and psychophysiological responses of acute stress,unlike the group with normative scores.In addition,the results show significant mediated effects of hyperarousal stress among fear of COVID-19 and emotional dysfunction psychopathology.However,the clinical syndromes most related to the consequences of the pandemic(e.g.,social contact avoidance or frequent hand washing),such as agoraphobia and obsessive-compulsive symptoms,were in fact predicted directly by fear of COVID-19 and/or the acute stress response associated with the pandemic and had a greater predictive power.CONCLUSION The present study illustrates a clearer picture of the role of acute stress on several forms of psychopathology during the COVID-19 crisis and home confinement.

Some Ethnic Features of Northern Aborigines’ Psychophysiology as a Base for Survival in Extreme Natural Conditions: A Review

The indigenous population of the North can efficiently preserve health and vital activity, and reproduce new generations under extreme climatic and geographic conditions due to peculiar way of life, mental features, rituals, regimes of work and rest, social and cultural traditions. Of great importance are also the clothes which are favorable for keeping heat and self-cleaning, some psycho-therapeutic factors (rituals of shamanism), animal food and vegetables. The phenotype of the adaptation reserves of an organism, northern type of metabolism, dominance of the right brain hemisphere play a great role, so does the adaptation of national mentality to the harmony of inner human state with the extreme environmental conditions of high latitudes.

Application of New Concept for Multiple Intelligences Calculation for Personality and Social Groups Comparison Research

A person is considered as information-energy system with a host of feedbacks. The possibility of determining the statistical characteristics in a multiple intelligences profile of various social groups’ representatives using the vibraimage technology is investigated. Theft and alcohol abuse have been chosen as examples of significant social problems including deviant behavior and the trigger of formation of various socially vulnerable groups. The comparative analysis of conscious and unconscious attitudes in multiple intelligences structure of individuals prone to deviant behavior and the control group allows differentiating professional preferences and the impact of society on different social groups.

Classical piano playing as a pathway to flow states for learners with disabilities

Derivation of happiness through playing classical music represents a rare pinnacle of musical experi ence.Biofeedback based research on playing piano in the state of effortless attention,named flow,has provided data which fortifies testimonials of pleasure during performance.Benefits include low er blood pressure,smooth breathing,a sense of disconnection from anxiety,and even feelings of eu phoria.Other than in cases of extraordinary talent,it is highly uncommon for individuals with perva sive and profound disabilities to reach a flow state through music performance.One of the bedrocks of reaching a flow state is having expertise in all elements of an activity which special learners may struggle with,especially if learning to play classical music.However,with a new language of music designed with the highest possible degree of clarity and ease(hereafter referred to as the Special Language),expertise is completely within reach for almost anyone with basic color and letter match ing skills.Using this method,students with severe challenges can immediately understand instruc tions,chain them together into melodic patterns and engage in the flow of reproducing music.With these skills unlocked,students who cannot read traditional notes can begin the step by step process of learning to play properly.This change in approach opens up potential fields of research to discov er how great an impact flow states at the piano can have on individuals who cannot read traditional music notation,how music teachers can prioritize flow in music education,and how educators and therapists who do not read traditional music notation can use music in the classroom.The purpose of establishing credibility of the Special Language/Flow Approach is to enable a higher quality of life for individuals who may not have the ability to attain it for themselves.

Proof of Effectiveness of PASCOFLAIR®in Subjects Suffering from Examination Anxiety Using Quantitative EEG in Combination with Eye-Tracking (EnkephaloVision). A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled, 2-Armed, Phase IV Study in Parallel Design

The pharmaco-dynamic action of plant-derived drugs still remains a big challenge in the field of pharmacology. This applies especially for the discovering of the possible mechanism of action. With respect to the brain, surrogate parameters may be very helpful. Non-invasive pharmaco-EEG has been proven to provide valid information on drug effects in general. Fast dynamic EEG recording with epoch length of 364 ms has now been achieved in combination with Eye-Tracking in order to elucidate single scenes during cognitive and emotional challenges (EnkephaloVision). The present investigation deals with the psychophysiological characterization of the effect of a plant-derived preparation marketed in Germany under the name of PASCOFLAIR® containing 425 mg of passionflower extract in subjects suffering from examination anxiety. Forty healthy volunteer subjects (17 men and 23 woman), with ages varying between 18 and 40 years (26 ± 6.726 for men and 25 ± 5.397 for women) were included into the study when having a score higher than 60 in the PAF (Pr&#220fungsangstfragebogen). Spectral power analysis of pre-drug data with respect to beta waves revealed a significant correlation to the score of the PAF. Increases of delta, theta and beta waves as induced by 4 cognitive and 4 emotional challenges were attenuated in the presence of 2 tablets of PASCOFLAIR® already 45 minutes after intake in a statistically significant manner in comparison to placebo. Regarding attenuation of beta1 and beta2 spectral power, effects on glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission, respectively, can be suspected according to our knowledge of frequency—transmitter relations. Accordingly, this attenuation must be interpreted as ability to counteract examination induced stress symptoms. Results confirm and extend earlier experimental data showing a calming action of PASCOFLAIR®.

Psychophysiological Effectiveness of Calmvalera Hevert Tablets as Measured by EnkephaloVision in Anxious Subjects during Audio-Visual Cognitive and Emotional Challenges: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, 2-Armed, Phase IV Study in Parallel Design

Subjects suffering from anxiety during examinations often take drugs with considerable side effects. As alternative, homeopathic preparations virtually lack side effects in general. However, clinical efficacy has to be demonstrated. This experimental series was initiated to provide evidence, that Calmvalera Hevert tablets, marketed for treatment of nervous restlessness and better coping with stress, have an influence on brain electric activity. In order to test this, a new clinical design was used: “EnkephaloVision”. It consists of the combination of quantitative EEG recording with time epochs of 364 ms (Neurocode-Tracking) with conventional Eye-Tracking. Seventeen channels of EEG and one channel EOG were recorded. After frequency analysis (FFT) current source density was calculated. Recording was performed in the presence of a video clip, which contained several different cognitive and emotional challenges in series. Twenty-four male and female subjects having a score >60 in an anxiety questionnaire (Prüfungsangstfragebogen PAF-S) were recruited to participate. A correlation between the Hamilton anxiety score and spectral alpha1 power during the recording condition “eyes open” before drug intake was detected. Spectral power was averaged including Cz, F3 and F4 electrode positions. Audiovisual challenges induced spectral changes with respect to delta, theta and beta power, not in the alpha ranges, to a different but statistically significant degree. Intake of Calmvalera Hevert tablets resulted in statistically significant increases of alpha1 and alpha2 spectral power during most of the recording conditions within the left hemisphere. Increases of alpha activity have been related to relaxation and calmness as reported in the literature. Discriminant analysis of the whole data set revealed a clear difference between verum and placebo and a projection of the data into the vicinity of other plant-derived calming preparations. Performance of psychometric tasks was not disturbed. Efficacy of Calmvalera Hevert tablets points to active molecules contained due to low triturations (D2 - D8).

Effect of Zembrin^(█) on Brain Electrical Activity in 60 Older Subjects after 6 Weeks of Daily Intake.A Prospective,Randomized,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled,3-Armed Study in a Parallel Design

Zembrin? is a botanical functional food and dietary supplement ingredient sold in the USA, and Canada for enhancing mood, decreasing anxiety and stress and improving cognitive function under stress. It is a proprietary extract of a cultivated selection of Sceletium tortuosum. The present investigation aimed at the measurement of the effect of 25 or 50 mg of Zembrin? in comparison to placebo after daily repetitive intake for 6 weeks. Sixty healthy male (n = 32) and female (n = 28) right-handed subjects between 50 and 80 years old (59.7 ± 5.43 and 56.7 ± 5.88 years, respectively) were recruited. The EEG was recorded bipolarly from 17 surface electrodes (CATEEM?) before and 1 h after intake. Six cognitive tests were performed: d2-test, memory test, calculation performance test, reaction time test, number identifying test and number connection test. Three questionnaires were included: Profile of Mood States, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and a sleep questionnaire. Quantitative EEG revealed increases of delta activity during performance of the d2-test, the number identification and number connection test in the fronto-temporal brain region. Higher theta activity was seen during relaxation and performance of the d2-test after intake of 50 mg of Zembrin?. Statistically conspicuous increases of alpha1 spectral power were seen in the relaxed state. With respect to alpha2 spectral power larger increases were observed in the centro- occipital region. Discriminant analysis revealed a projection of Zembrin? data into the vicinity of the calming preparation Calmvalera tablets and a Ginkgo-Ginseng mixture. Statistically significant improvement during performance of the arithmetic calculation test and number connection test was documented. The HAM-A anxiety score revealed a statistically significant decrease (p = 0.03) after six weeks. Zembrin? showed significant activity on three levels of evidence: questionnaires, psychometry and quantitative EEG. The results indicate that in healthy people Zembrin? improves some aspects of cognitive function, decreases anxiety, and may enhance mood.

Magnetic resonance imaging for smoking abstinence:symptoms,mechanisms,and interventions

Tobacco smoking is the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.Although a number of smokers are aware of the adverse outcomes of smoking and express a strong desire to stop smoking,most smoking quit attempts end in relapse within the first few days of abstinence,primarily resulting from the aversive aspects of the nicotine withdrawal syndrome.Therefore,studying the neural mechanisms of smoking abstinence,identifying smokers with heightened relapse vulnerability prior to quit attempts,and developing effective smoking cessation treatments appear to be promising strategies for improving the success of quit attempts.In recent years,with the development of magnetic resonance imaging,the neural substrates of smoking abstinence have become extensively studied.In this review,we first introduce the psychophysiological changes induced by smoking abstinence,including affective,cognitive,and somatic signs.We then provide an overview of the magnetic resonance imaging-based evidence regarding abstinencerelated functional changes accompanied by these psychophysiological changes.We conclude with a discussion of the neural markers that could predict relapse during quit attempts and a summary of the psychophysiological interventions that are currently often used to help with smoking cessation.This review extends our understanding of the role of the central nervous system in smoking abstinence.

Validity and reliability of a Chinese rating of perceived exertion scale in young Mandarin speaking adults

Background:The validity and reliability of the Borg 6–20 rating of perceived exertion(RPE)scale has not been tested among Chinese people from China' Mainland.The purpose of this study was to test:1)The validity of Leung Chinese version and Wang Chinese version of the Borg 6–20 RPE scale;2)The reliability of Wang Chinese version RPE scale;and 3)The agreement of these two Chinese versions of the RPE scale among young healthy adults from China' Mainland.Methods:A total of 26 subjects(11 males,15 females;age 22.7±3.0 yrs)volunteered to participate.They performed one(n=3),two(n=14),or three trials(n=9)of the Bruce treadmill protocol test within 9.0±5.1 days(validation trials),and 30.4±27.9 days(reliability trials).Power output,heart rate,oxygen consumption,and RPE were recorded.Results:RPE was significantly correlated with power output(Leung version rs≥0.75,Wang version rs≥0.73),heart rate(HR)(Leung version rs≥0.84,Wang version rs≥0.87),and oxygen consumption(VO2)(Leung version rs≥0.80,Wang version rs≥0.81)(all p<0.01).The overall test-retest interclass correlation was 0.94(p<0.01).No significant differences in correlations(RPE against power output,HR and VO_(2))between trials existed for the reliability tests of Wang version scale.No significant differences in correlations(RPE against power output,HR and VO_(2))between the two Chinese versions of RPE scale existed.Conclusion:Both Chinese RPE scales are valid among young healthy Chinese mandarin speaking adults.The Wang scale is reliable,and the Leung and Wang scales show superior agreement with each other.

The Modern Development of New Promising Fields in Forensic Examinations

The relevance of the study is forensic expert activity in terms of forensic examinations have been so transformed that existing theoretical provisions do not already solve traditional problems in some fields;their solvation requires new approaches of both theoretical and practical nature.In this regard,the purpose of this study is to analyze the content of new innovative directions in forensic examinations,including criminalistic ones,and the possibility of their effective application in forensic expert activity.The methodological basis of the study is the dialectical method of scientific knowledge,which allowed the authors to consider the theoretical and scientific,and practical foundations of modem trends in forensic examinations,including criminalistic ones.It also helped to identify promising fields of examinations necessary for crime prevention.Therefore,authors singled out the following advanced fields:biometric and computer forensic analyses,polygraph,and odor and trace evidence analyses.The materials of the article are of practical value for forensic experts and criminologists,law enforcement agencies.