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359 Electrocortical responses of weather-sensitive headache patients to sferics
Abstracts
/International
Journal
The novel paradigm is derived from the neuron-model approach of the author (1988, 1990) that regards the sensory system as the neuron multilevel semiotic model of the adequate environment. Thus, the novel paradigm suggests that the sensory system is the model and not communication system. In view of this, the receptors and the central neurons are not opposed as the coding [Sl and decoding [RI devices, respectively. All elements of the model comprise a united organized imaging set of the elements compared to the imaged set of the elements, i.e. to the objects-stimuli of the environment in their relationship. In essence, the formed and trained sensory system (model) is a long-term memory of the potential stimuli of the adequate environment (optic, odor or others). The actualization of the environmental stimuli is followed by changing the activity and excitability of the corresponding model elements. Thus, the static codes (neurons) in the state of a higher activity are the codes of the actual stimuli. The selective activation of solely corresponding elements of the model by the stimuli is provided by the selective properties of the receptors, by the organized convergence of the selectivitydiffering labeled lines and by the integrative mechanism of the input of this sensory-pathway neurons. The changes in conduction and excitability properties of the model elements are possible mechanisms of different modes of the short-term memory. The new model paradigm affords a wider use of the neurophysiological terms in explanation of mechanisms of many psychophysiological phenomena related to both the memory and the thinking.
359 ELECTROCORTICAL RESPONSES WEATHER-SENSITIVE HEADACHE PATIENTS SFERICS
OF TO
A. Schienle*, R. Stark and D. Vaitl Department of Clinical and Physiological Psychology, University of Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10, 35394 Giessen, Germw Many headache patients believe that weather changes act as pain triggers. Therefore, the present study investigated the psychophysiological influence of an indicator of atmospheric instability, sferics, on 32 subjectively weather-sensitive women suffering from migraine attacks and/or tension-type headaches (mean age = 40 years, range = 19-76 years). Sferits are electromagnetic impulses emitted by thunderstorms (lightning). It was analyzed if this parameter is able to induce electrocortical changes as well as headache symptoms. The subjects, who had been divided into two groups, participated in a sferics simulation study. The experimental group (n = 16) underwent a 10 minute exposure to 10 kHz-sferics impulses followed by 20 minutes without treatment in order to examine possible prolonged sferics effects. The control group (n = 16) received no treatment. As dependent measures, EEG spectral power was compared between the two groups at six electrode sites (F3/F4; P3/P4; 01/02). Sferics exposure pro-
of Psychophysiology
30 (1998)
139
95-271
voked increases in absolute alpha power in all regions during the treatment. The effect was still present at parietal sites at the end of registration (20 minutes after the end of exposure). Although the stimulation did not induce headache symptoms, the observed prolonged electrocortical responses could indicate a dysfunction in cortical information processing characterized by a reduced habituation to stimulation.
360 CREATIVITY
IN MULTIPLE
SCLEROSIS
Y.A. Todrol*, E. Todrol, M. Saragodlu, 0. Tamidad and N. Akyatan Syraselviler caddesi Yeni Hayat Apt. No:87 D:2, CihangirTaksim, Istanbul 80060, Turkey In the recent years it has been suggested that cognitive dysfunction or decline occurs in the majority of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients, especially in the late periods of the disease. Especially pace of information processing, learning and memory, concept formation seem to be affected most. In some patients, behavioral or emotional pathologies may also emerge. On the other hand, creativity, which involves not only these cognitive skills but also some other qualities of the person, may still be unaffected. Creative Thinking Test-Drawing Production CTT-DP (Jellen and Urban, 1987) is a divergent thinking instrument for testing creative skills which has already been adapted to Turkish. In the present study, this test was administered to a sample of 3.5 patients with MS and 50 age-matched controls. The results were discussed in terms off clinical picture, history, onset symptoms and laboratory investigations. Key words: Multiple Sclerosis, Creativity, Creative Thinking Test-Drawing Production, divergent thinking
361 GATING PROCESSES VERSION SYMPTOMS
IN PATIENTS
WITH CON-
Hamid R. Pouretemad*, Pamela J. Thompson*, Peter B.C. Fenwick Department of .Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, England Theoretical and empirical evidence suggest that the essential problem in patients with conversion symptoms are attentional deficits related to the ability to screen out or “gate” irrelevant sensory stimuli. Theoretically, deficits in this critical function may lead to sensory flooding and cognitive fragmentation. The aim of the present study was to determine whether sensory gating is impaired in patients with conversion symptoms. The study was carried out in 10 patients with conversion symptoms (5 male, 5 female), and 22 healthy controls (11 male, 11 female). The groups were matched for age, sex, full-scale IQ, and handedness. Sensory gating was assessed by habituation and prepulse inhibition of the startle eye blink reflex mea-
/International
Journal
The novel paradigm is derived from the neuron-model approach of the author (1988, 1990) that regards the sensory system as the neuron multilevel semiotic model of the adequate environment. Thus, the novel paradigm suggests that the sensory system is the model and not communication system. In view of this, the receptors and the central neurons are not opposed as the coding [Sl and decoding [RI devices, respectively. All elements of the model comprise a united organized imaging set of the elements compared to the imaged set of the elements, i.e. to the objects-stimuli of the environment in their relationship. In essence, the formed and trained sensory system (model) is a long-term memory of the potential stimuli of the adequate environment (optic, odor or others). The actualization of the environmental stimuli is followed by changing the activity and excitability of the corresponding model elements. Thus, the static codes (neurons) in the state of a higher activity are the codes of the actual stimuli. The selective activation of solely corresponding elements of the model by the stimuli is provided by the selective properties of the receptors, by the organized convergence of the selectivitydiffering labeled lines and by the integrative mechanism of the input of this sensory-pathway neurons. The changes in conduction and excitability properties of the model elements are possible mechanisms of different modes of the short-term memory. The new model paradigm affords a wider use of the neurophysiological terms in explanation of mechanisms of many psychophysiological phenomena related to both the memory and the thinking.
359 ELECTROCORTICAL RESPONSES WEATHER-SENSITIVE HEADACHE PATIENTS SFERICS
OF TO
A. Schienle*, R. Stark and D. Vaitl Department of Clinical and Physiological Psychology, University of Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10, 35394 Giessen, Germw Many headache patients believe that weather changes act as pain triggers. Therefore, the present study investigated the psychophysiological influence of an indicator of atmospheric instability, sferics, on 32 subjectively weather-sensitive women suffering from migraine attacks and/or tension-type headaches (mean age = 40 years, range = 19-76 years). Sferits are electromagnetic impulses emitted by thunderstorms (lightning). It was analyzed if this parameter is able to induce electrocortical changes as well as headache symptoms. The subjects, who had been divided into two groups, participated in a sferics simulation study. The experimental group (n = 16) underwent a 10 minute exposure to 10 kHz-sferics impulses followed by 20 minutes without treatment in order to examine possible prolonged sferics effects. The control group (n = 16) received no treatment. As dependent measures, EEG spectral power was compared between the two groups at six electrode sites (F3/F4; P3/P4; 01/02). Sferics exposure pro-
of Psychophysiology
30 (1998)
139
95-271
voked increases in absolute alpha power in all regions during the treatment. The effect was still present at parietal sites at the end of registration (20 minutes after the end of exposure). Although the stimulation did not induce headache symptoms, the observed prolonged electrocortical responses could indicate a dysfunction in cortical information processing characterized by a reduced habituation to stimulation.
360 CREATIVITY
IN MULTIPLE
SCLEROSIS
Y.A. Todrol*, E. Todrol, M. Saragodlu, 0. Tamidad and N. Akyatan Syraselviler caddesi Yeni Hayat Apt. No:87 D:2, CihangirTaksim, Istanbul 80060, Turkey In the recent years it has been suggested that cognitive dysfunction or decline occurs in the majority of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients, especially in the late periods of the disease. Especially pace of information processing, learning and memory, concept formation seem to be affected most. In some patients, behavioral or emotional pathologies may also emerge. On the other hand, creativity, which involves not only these cognitive skills but also some other qualities of the person, may still be unaffected. Creative Thinking Test-Drawing Production CTT-DP (Jellen and Urban, 1987) is a divergent thinking instrument for testing creative skills which has already been adapted to Turkish. In the present study, this test was administered to a sample of 3.5 patients with MS and 50 age-matched controls. The results were discussed in terms off clinical picture, history, onset symptoms and laboratory investigations. Key words: Multiple Sclerosis, Creativity, Creative Thinking Test-Drawing Production, divergent thinking
361 GATING PROCESSES VERSION SYMPTOMS
IN PATIENTS
WITH CON-
Hamid R. Pouretemad*, Pamela J. Thompson*, Peter B.C. Fenwick Department of .Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, England Theoretical and empirical evidence suggest that the essential problem in patients with conversion symptoms are attentional deficits related to the ability to screen out or “gate” irrelevant sensory stimuli. Theoretically, deficits in this critical function may lead to sensory flooding and cognitive fragmentation. The aim of the present study was to determine whether sensory gating is impaired in patients with conversion symptoms. The study was carried out in 10 patients with conversion symptoms (5 male, 5 female), and 22 healthy controls (11 male, 11 female). The groups were matched for age, sex, full-scale IQ, and handedness. Sensory gating was assessed by habituation and prepulse inhibition of the startle eye blink reflex mea-