Biomaterial Database

Imagery and the autonomic nervous system: some methodological issues. 1979

E L Di Giusto, and N W Bond

The present paper is concerned with the role played by image content in the mediation of autonomic nervous system (ANS) arousal. The minimum methodological requirements of such studies are described including controls for imaging, image content, and expectancy effects. Studies meeting these requirements are then reviewed. It is concluded that image content can be a significant modifier of ANS arousal and that this property is not restricted to images containing affective, e.g., phobic, content. These conclusions have relevance to research into techniques such as biofeedback, Transcendental Meditation, and progressive relaxation, where imagery many have a profound influence but where it has received little direct empirical attentiol.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007092	Imagination	A new pattern of perceptual or ideational material derived from past experience.	Imaginations
D012064	Relaxation Therapy	Treatment to improve one's health condition by using techniques that can reduce PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS; PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS; or both.	Relaxation Techniques,Therapeutic Relaxation,Ecotherapy,Nature Therapy,Relaxation Technics,Therapy, Relaxation,Ecotherapies,Nature Therapies,Relaxation Technic,Relaxation Technique,Relaxation, Therapeutic,Technic, Relaxation,Technique, Relaxation,Techniques, Relaxation,Therapy, Nature
D005239	Fear	The affective response to an actual current external danger which subsides with the elimination of the threatening condition.	Threat Cues,Threat Sensitivity,Cue, Threat,Fears,Sensitivity, Threat,Threat Cue,Threat Sensitivities
D005712	Galvanic Skin Response	A change in electrical resistance of the skin, occurring in emotion and in certain other conditions.	Electric Conductance, Skin,Electrodermal Response,Reflex, Psychogalvanic,Skin Electric Conductance,Conductance, Skin Electric,Conductances, Skin Electric,Electric Conductances, Skin,Electrodermal Responses,Galvanic Skin Responses,Psychogalvanic Reflex,Response, Electrodermal,Response, Galvanic Skin,Responses, Electrodermal,Responses, Galvanic Skin,Skin Response, Galvanic,Skin Responses, Galvanic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001143	Arousal	Cortical vigilance or readiness of tone, presumed to be in response to sensory stimulation via the reticular activating system.	Vigilance, Cortical,Arousals,Cortical Vigilance
D001307	Auditory Perception	The process whereby auditory stimuli are selected, organized, and interpreted by the organism.	Auditory Processing,Perception, Auditory,Processing, Auditory
D001341	Autonomic Nervous System	The ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM; PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM; and SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM taken together. Generally speaking, the autonomic nervous system regulates the internal environment during both peaceful activity and physical or emotional stress. Autonomic activity is controlled and integrated by the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, especially the HYPOTHALAMUS and the SOLITARY NUCLEUS, which receive information relayed from VISCERAL AFFERENTS.	Vegetative Nervous System,Visceral Nervous System,Autonomic Nervous Systems,Nervous System, Autonomic,Nervous System, Vegetative,Nervous System, Visceral,Nervous Systems, Autonomic,Nervous Systems, Vegetative,Nervous Systems, Visceral,System, Autonomic Nervous,System, Vegetative Nervous,System, Visceral Nervous,Systems, Autonomic Nervous,Systems, Vegetative Nervous,Systems, Visceral Nervous,Vegetative Nervous Systems,Visceral Nervous Systems
D001676	Biofeedback, Psychology	The therapy technique of providing the status of one's own AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM function (e.g., skin temperature, heartbeats, brain waves) as visual or auditory feedback in order to self-control related conditions (e.g., hypertension, migraine headaches).	Biofeedback (Psychology),Bogus Physiological Feedback,False Physiological Feedback,Feedback, Psychophysiologic,Biofeedback,Feedback, Psychophysiological,Myofeedback,Psychophysiologic Feedback,Biofeedbacks,Biofeedbacks (Psychology),Biofeedbacks, Psychology,Bogus Physiological Feedbacks,False Physiological Feedbacks,Feedback, Bogus Physiological,Feedback, False Physiological,Feedbacks, Bogus Physiological,Feedbacks, False Physiological,Myofeedbacks,Physiological Feedback, Bogus,Physiological Feedback, False,Physiological Feedbacks, Bogus,Physiological Feedbacks, False,Psychology Biofeedback,Psychology Biofeedbacks
D014796	Visual Perception	The selecting and organizing of visual stimuli based on the individual's past experience.	Visual Processing,Perception, Visual,Processing, Visual