To monitor the psychophysiological arousal level in the elderly, 24 h recordings
of skin conductance change (SCC) were done during their stay in care facilities.
The mean and maximum SCC levels in 17 ...awake elderly subjects were significantly lower
than those of levels in 20 healthy, young control subjects (P < 0.05 and
P < 0.001, respectively). The mean SCC levels during sleep did not differ between groups. The SCC trend graph reflected a degree of daily activity. The daytime SCC profile of elderly individuals who could walk independently was comparable to that of healthy young subjects. In contrast, the SCC profile of the bedridden elderly were generally flattened with poor SCC responses that were evoked only by nursing procedures.
The special issue is planned to offer the effective reports concerning stress problems of athletes. The first report deals mainly with the female athlete triad (FAT) that arises from constant and ...intense exercise, daily dietary restrictions and psychological stress. The second paper proposes to use physiological indicators such as cortisol, indicator of the endocrine system, for estimating the training load of athletes. These kind research, psychoneuroendocrinoimmunological approach, give effective data to control stress of athletes. Third one concerns with consultation for elite athletes. It involves important topics for sport performance, such as consultants competency, resilience, and team resilience. The last article compares the mindfulness acceptance-commitment approach with the psychological skill training. These topics would discuss on the points of their effectiveness and usefulness for Olympiad 2020.
The influence of hostility on cortisol levels in saliva was investigated in 47 university students (27 males and 20 females). The students were divided into high and low hostility groups by cluster ...analyses based on their scores on the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire and the Müller Anger Coping Questionnaire. Their saliva was collected twice, in the morning immediately after awakening at a two week interval. On the day before saliva collection, they completed questionnaires about stressful events and their moods in the previous two weeks. The results of the ANOVA showed higher cortisol levels and higher frequencies of stressful events and negative moods in the high hostility group. The effect of hostility on cortisol levels was diminished by controlling for stressful events and negative moods, which suggests that stressful events and negative moods are mediators between hostility and cortisol. The results are discussed in relation to the association between hostility and coronary heart disease.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of hostility ratings made by others. The rating measure was considered essential for the study of correlation between hostility and coronary ...heart disease. Undergraduate and graduate students, 81 in all, completed a questionnaire of hostility and social desirability. The scales included were Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BAQ), Müller Anger Coping Questionnaire (MAQ), and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSD). Acquaintances also rated them using BAQ and MAQ. Correlations between self and other ratings were moderate, and self-rated hostility scores correlated negatively with MCSD scores, while other-rated hostility scores did not. Results of ANOVA indicated that self-rated hostility scores were higher than other-rated hostility scores. However, the differences decreased as the degree of closeness between them increased, and no difference was found in long-term close relationship. These results suggested that other ratings of hostility could be an objective measure in Japan, as in western countries.
Skin surface blood flow at the fingertips was measured in a 21‐year‐old woman during sleep using laser Doppler flowmetry. Skin blood flow responses (SBFR) are transient reductions in skin blood flow ...of about 25 s in duration. In our subject, SBFR showed a delay time of 8–9 s from the onset of skin potential responses (SPR) and appeared more consistently than SPR. The frequency of SBFR decreased during non‐rapid eye movement sleep, especially when the sleep stage became deep. These findings indicate the validity of SBFR as a discrete index of autonomic function during sleep.
To monitor the sleep–wake cycle of patients during their stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), we tried continuous and long‐term recording of skin potential (SP) levels in patients after surgery. A ...graph of the week‐long SP showed the sleep–wake pattern to be evident until the fourth day. It disappeared beginning on the fifth day, resulting finally in delirium with a relatively high mean SP level. In another record, the administration of sedative agents to calm the excitement lowered the mean SP level and suppressed SP responses evoked by frequent day and night treatment or nursing care. Continuous monitoring of arousal level by SP will be of help in prevention of ICU syndrome.
Using a new compact and stable device, skin conductance change (SCC) was measured in five female undergraduates during sleep. The SCC trends and waveforms were almost identical to those of ...simultaneously recorded skin potential activity (SPA). A gradual increase in sympathetic sweating during sleep was also observed using SCC. However, the confounding effects of a burst of positive skin potential responses usually seen in SPA were absent using SCC.
Cortisol secretion after awakening, an index of hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis activity, appears to be related to psychosocial stressors, or to symptoms caused by psychosocial stressors. The ...relationship between the quality, duration, and magnitude of psychosocial factors and cortisol secretion is however, unclear. Therefore, the effect of episodic stress associated with writing a graduation thesis on cortisol secretion after awakening was investigated. Saliva samples were collected from 10 undergraduate students at awakening, and 30, 45, and 60 min after awakening 1 month, 2 weeks, and a few days before the thesis submission and 1 week after the submission. They also completed the Short form of Profile of Moods Scale (POMS-S) on the night before each sampling. Results indicated that cortisol levels were higher a few days before the thesis submission compared to 1 month before submission. Scores of “Fatigue” and “Tension-Anxiety” in POMS-S were also higher a few days before submission. These results suggest that episodic stress associated with writing a graduation thesis caused an increase in cortisol levels after awakening.
The effects of the presence of a supportive other on hemodynamics were assessed in 28 male undergraduate students. Participants were assigned to a support group or to a non-support group and they ...executed a mental arithmetic task. In the support group, a close friend accompanied participants to the laboratory and they executed the task in the proximity of the friend. To minimize evaluative aspects, friends executed their own task (cross word puzzle) while listening to music with headphones. Heart rate, blood pressure, impedance cardiography and emotional responses were recorded. Participants in the support group relative to the non-support group showed reduced reactivity only in diastolic blood pressure. Distinct differences in hemodynamics were not found between the two groups. There were no group differences in negative affects, but obvious differences were found in positive affects. Interpersonal support may reduce cardiovascular response through cognitive processes. The role of positive affects was particularly emphasized as a stress buffer process. (Japanese Journal of Physiological Psychology and Psychophysiology, 23 (3) : 197-205, 2005.)
In order to validate the evaluation of sleep using cassette type ambulatory skin potential measurement system (C‐SPA), sleep duration variables extracted from 24 h recordings were compared between ...two groups (16 of the intermediate type and 16 of the evening type) with different sleep‐wake habits rated by Morningness and Eveningness Questionnaires (MEQ). Compared with the intermediate type, the evening type subjects go to bed and get up later, have difficulty in falling asleep and more frequently awaken during sleep. Thus, the sleep variables by C‐SPA provide valuable information about duration of sleep and differentiate the Sleep‐wake habits.
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