Response to the challenge: Effective treatment of the elderly through thermal biofeedback combined with progression relaxation

This notes pursues the theme introduced in the first Notes and Observations publication: the effectiveness of biofeedback in treatment of the elderly. Current clinical results in progress are reported for a 76-year-old female hypertensive whose blood pressure has to date been lowered from 190/90 to 160/82 by means of thermal biofeedback in conjunction with progressive relaxation. These results are contrasted with reported failures in the headache study of elderly patients (Blanchard, Andrasik, Evans, & Hillhouse 1985). Results of this study are reinterpreted in terms of biofeedback modality rather than age of subjects.     

The effects of frontal EMG biofeedback and progressive relaxation upon hyperactivity and its behavioral concomitants

Hyperactive children(N=15) and nonhyperactive children(N=15) were compared. Hyperactive children were found to possess significantly higher(p < .002) muscular tension levels and, in addition, presented more behavioral problems and had lower test scores. Both electromyographic(EMG) biofeedback and progressive relaxation exercises were successful in the significant reduction of muscular tension, hyperactivity, distractability, irritability, impulsivity, explosiveness, aggressivity, and emotionality in hyperactive children. The greatest improvement was seen in the area of emotionality—aggression(irritability, explosiveness, impulsivity, low frustration tolerance, aggression). No differences were seen in the EMG improvement of drug and nondrug hyperactive children; both made progress under these self-control techniques. However, nondrug children made greater improvements in the behavioral area. Both EMG biofeedback and progressive relaxation resulted in improvements on the test scores of hyperactive subjects(Bender-Gestalt, Visual Sequential Memory, Digit Span, Coding). The therapy would appear to be improved by the inclusion of mental relaxation, concentration, meditation, and mind-blanking exercises for mental control.     

EMG biofeedback treatment of torticollis: A controlled outcome study

Successful treatment of torticollis with electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback has been reported in a number of single case and single group studies. The present investigation represents the first controlled outcome study. Twelve torticollis patients were randomly assigned to EMG biofeedback or relaxation training and graded neck exercises (RGP). The procedure involved three sessions of baseline assessment, 15 sessions of EMG BF or RGP, 6 sessions of EMG BF or RGP plus home-management, 6 sessions of home-management alone, and follow-up 3 months after the end of treatment. A variety of outcome measures were used including physiological (EMG from the two sternocleidomastoid muscles, skin conductance level), behavioral (angle of head deviation, range of movement of the head), and self-report (depression, functional disability, body concept), therapist and significant other reports and independent observer assessment of videos. In both groups, neck muscle activity was reduced from pre- to posttreatment. This reduction was greater in the EMG biofeedback group. There was evidence of feedback-specific neck muscle relaxation in the EMG biofeedback group. Therefore, the outcome was not due to nonspecific factors and could be attributed to feedback-specific effects. Changes in skin conductance level showed that neck muscle relaxation was not simply mediated by a general reduction of arousal. Significant improvements of extent of head deviation, and range of movement of the head, as well as reductions of depression were present, which were not different in the two groups. At the end of treatment, no patient was asymptomatic. Any therapeutic benefit was generally maintained at follow-up. The results and the procedural simplicity of RGP make the issue of cost-efficacy of EMG biofeedback a pertinent one. Further controlled outcome studies of EMG biofeedback treatment of torticollis with larger samples are required.This work was funded by grants from the Medical Research Council and the Dystonia Society.     

EMG biofeedback of the abductor pollicis brevis in piano performance

The aim of the present study was to apply EMG biofeedback as an auxiliary to piano teaching techniques. We studied the changes in integrated electromyographic activity, using the abductor pollicis brevis functioning as an agonist during the teaching of identical selective movements of piano playing in two groups, one with EMG biofeedback and the other following traditional method of instruction. The analysis of variance revealed an increase in the peak amplitude and the relaxation rate values for the biofeedback group. These results have implications for the application of piano playing techniques and reveal EMG biofeedback as an aid in the teaching of thumb attack with the abductor pollicis brevis as agonist.We are grateful for the valuable assistance of Dr. Jaime Vila (Professor of Therapy and Behavioral Modification, Faculty of Psychology, Granada), the cooperation of students at the Juventudes Musicales Music School, Santa Fe and at the Victoria Eugenia Conservatoire, (Granada), the Statistical Analysis Centre of University of Filosofia y Letras de Granada; Professor Enrique Garcia Fernandez-Abasal (Complutense University) for the design of the interface and software.     

A diallel cross for mating speeds inDrosophila melanogaster

A diallel cross inDrosophila melanogaster for the mating speeds of previously unmated pairs aged 6 days was carried out for 6 inbred lines and their hybrids. Pairs were observed for 40 minutes.There was extreme hybrid vigour especially in mating frequency for 10 minutes but the degree of hybrid vigour was relatively smaller for 40 minutes.Considerable variability occurred between the inbred lines indicating the genotypic control of mating speed.An analysis of variance on the hybrids revealed significant general and specific combining abilities, and reciprocal effects. The mating frequency for 10 minutes gave heritability in the narrow sense, h²=0.605, 20 minutes gave h²=0.510 and 40 minutes gave h²=0.342.The progressive reduction in h² is due to a decrease in additive genetic variance and an increase in dominance variance with time. Thus either the dominance relations of genes controlling mating speeds change with time. or different loci control this character at different times.     

Late pleistocene population dynamics: An alternative view

An attempt is made to argue for a more dynamic view of huntergatherer population behavior in place of the largely static one that has been widely accepted. Following a review of how the concept of carrying capacity has been used in both huntergatherer and ecological studies, attention is drawn to the role of stochastic factors in producing fluctuations over time among populations that are small in size. Some of the implications of this alternative view are briefly discussed.Research supported in part by NIH Grant GM 20467-03.This is a revised version of a paper presented at the symposium, Systems and Their Environments, at the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, 1973, New Orleans.     

New data on the toxic and radioprotective effect of cysteine onEscherichia coli 15 T- cells

Summary Exponential phase cultures ofE. coli 15 T^- cells growing on glucosemineral medium were supplemented with 2 mM l-cysteine-HCl. The optical density, acid soluble SH (AS-SH) as well as the DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis of the cultures were examined during this treatment and after return to normal growth conditions. Similarly, the survival of cells irradiated by a standard X-ray dose in cysteine-free buffer was measured.The development of radioresistance during the cysteine treatment as well as the loss of this acquired radioresistance after return to normal growth conditions could be divided into two phases: a) an instantaneous and b) a slow change of radioresistance. Phase a seems to be related to the changes occurring in the AS-SH content of the bacteria, while phase b is apparently dependent on the alterations in the synthesis of macromolecules.This work was partly presented at the 6th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Radiation Biology, Interlaken 1968.     

Oxygen Consumption and Respiration Following Two Yoga Relaxation Techniques

The present study was conducted to evaluate a statement in ancient yoga texts that suggests that a combination of both calming and stimulating measures may be especially helpful in reaching a state of mental equilibrium. Two yoga practices, one combining calming and stimulating measures (cyclic meditation) and the other, a calming technique (shavasan), were compared. The oxygen consumption, breath rate, and breath volume of 40 male volunteers (group mean ± SD, 27.0 ± 5.7 years) were assessed before and after sessions of cyclic meditation (CM) and before and after sessions of shavasan (SH). The 2 sessions (CM, SH) were 1 day apart. Cyclic meditation includes the practice of yoga postures interspersed with periods of supine relaxation. During SH the subject lies in a supine position throughout the practice. There was a significant decrease in the amount of oxygen consumed and in breath rate and an increase in breath volume after both types of sessions (2-factor ANOVA, paired t test). However, the magnitude of change on all 3 measures was greater after CM: (1) Oxygen consumption decreased 32.1% after CM compared with 10.1% after SH; (2) breath rate decreased 18.0% after CM and 15.2% after SH; and (3) breath volume increased 28.8% after CM and 15.9% after SH. These results support the idea that a combination of yoga postures interspersed with relaxation reduces arousal more than relaxation alone does.     

A comparison of relaxation techniques with electrosleep therapy for chronic,sleep-onset insomnia

Two methods of relaxation therapy, electromyograph biofeedback and autogenic training, were compared to a nonrelaxation treatment, electrosleep therapy, in reducing sleep latency among 22 chronic, sleep-onset insomniacs. While none of the electrosleep patients improved on all-night laboratory electroencephalographic sleep records or daily home sleep logs, approximately one-half of the relaxation-treated patients showed marked improvement, which was sustained over a 1-month follow-up period. Although some sleep and treatment variables differentiated relaxation therapy responders from nonresponders, external stress appeared to be the most salient factor. Successful and unsuccessful patients could not be differentiated on any of the psychological variables studied.     

A meta-analysis of frontalis EMG levels with biofeedback and alternative procedures

The lack of comparative reviews of the efficacy of EMG frontalis biofeedback versus alternative procedures for reduction of muscle tension prompted the present meta-analytic treatment of literature previously concluded to be equivocal. Twenty studies comparing EMG frontalis biofeedback with other tension-reduction procedures produced a total of 68 separate effect sizes suitable for meta-analysis. Differences between clinical and normal samples were nonsignificant, and data analyses revealed that EMG frontalis biofeedback was significantly superior to control (p<.05) but that alternative forms of muscle relaxation, while effective, did not reach statistical significance.     

Anencephalus and spina bifida: An ecological approach

The ecological approach to the etiology of disease involves consideration of the complex interactions of factors related to the host, agent, and environment. Although the ecological approach was developed with regard to infectious diseases, this article suggests its application as a meaningful approach to understanding the etiology of anencephalus and spina bifida. Host, agent, and environmental factors thought to be important in the development of these malformations are discussed. Translation of this conceptual approach into a testable model is needed.Presented in part at the symposium, Anthropology and Medical Education, 44th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Denver, Colorado, April 9–12, 1975.     

C-banding patterns in the AustralianBulbine (Liliaceae): The annual group,B. semibarbata s. lato

Chromosome C-band patterns have been studied in 34 populations of the Australian annualBulbine group, which comprises 4x (2n = 26, 28), 8x (2n = 52, 54) and 12x (2n = 78) populations. The 2n = 26B. semibarbata populations have a simple, low heterochromatin pattern with very minor polytypic variation. The 2n = 28 populations, corresponding morphologically to a group given separate status asB. alata, are similar in pattern but exhibit pronounced enhancement of telomeric and, more particularly, centromeric dot bands. NOR heterochromatin and satellites are difficult to identify inB. alata but appear to occur in different positions from the 26-chromosome karyotype. Eastern Australian 8 x patterns are consistent with a proposed hybrid ancestry,B. semibarbata ×B. alata. Annual and perennial C-band profiles in the AustralianBulbine are discussed briefly in relation to the additive and transformation models of heterochromatin evolution and to the possible adaptive significance of variation in heterochromatin content.Cytoevolution in the AustralianBulbine 2; for part 1 see Pl. Syst. Evol.157, 201–217.     

Characteristics of stress clinic attendees

Increasing numbers of self-referral stress management programs are using relaxation and biofeedback techniques, but few data are available on the characteristics of the clients upon which one might base the design or improvement of a self-regulation program. The type, duration, and severity of stress problem, medication, and demographic information were obtained from 423 adults who attended a university-based stress clinic. The clients were classified into four symptom groups (anxiety, muscle tension headache, muscle tension, and other) and one asymptomatic (personal growth) group. Ten sessions of cognitive and somatic relaxation techniques were provided, followed by a posttreatment improvement questionnaire. The asymptomatic group was significantly different from the stress groups, whereas the latter exhibited more similarities than differences. The groups reported an average improvement in well-being of 67%, and the majority of clients equally preferred the autogenic and progressive muscle relaxation therapies.     

Instrumentation methodology for recording and feeding-back surface electromyographic (SEMG) signals

The use of biofeedback devices has been plagued by the garbage in—garbage out problem since its inception. This paper reviews the basics of how to use biofeedback devices for surface electromyographic applications at each stage in the process from sensors to displays so meaningful information can be gathered and utilized.     

Ten-year stability of EEG biofeedback results for a hyperactive boy who failed fourth grade perceptually impaired class

Ten years ago, the first successful application of a clinical,private-practice based, EEG 14-Hz biofeedback training regimen for the treatment of learning disorders was performed by the author. After the 10-year-old boy, with presenting symptomology including a developmental reading disorder, hyperactivity, and an educational classification of perceptually impaired, continued symptom free for a period oftwo years, his case was submitted for publication. Ten years after his termination from successful treatment, his ongoingly normal social and academic functioning is noted and his EEG brainwave signature examined and compared with a population of 24 used-to-be learning disabled, one-half of which had a pretreatment state including the educational classification of perceptually impaired. This 10-year follow-up confirms the long-term stability of the results of this EEG 14-Hz biofeedback regimen. Current findings on recent medical research identifying a major cerebral locus of dysfunction for hyperkinesis and how it supports the electrode placements of this clinical office setting regimen is also discussed.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the stromateoid fishes (Perciformes)

The phylogenetic relationships of all 16 genera (plus Psenes pellucidus) of the suborder Stromateoidei were estimated cladistically based on 43 osteological, myological, and external characters. Thirty equally parsimonious trees were obtained. Based on the strict consensus tree, Centrolophidae was nonmonophyletic, Psenopsis being placed as a sister group of a clade comprising Amarsipus, Ariomma, nomeids, Tetragonurus, and stromateids. Schedophilus formed a sister group relationship with Seriolella. The relationships among the Centrolophus, Hyperoglyphe, Icichthys, Tubbia, Schedophilus+Seriolella clade, and Psenopsis+Amarsipus+Ariomma+nomeids+Tetragonurus+stromateids clade were unresolved. Amarsipus, which is unique within the suborder in lacking a pharyngeal sac, was nested within the stromateoid clade, being a sister group of the clade including Ariomma, nomeids, Tetragonurus, and stromateids. The absence of a pharyngeal sac in Amarsipus was interpreted as a reversal, its presence in the Stromateoidei therefore being considered as a synapomorphy. Ariomma was placed as the sister group of a clade comprising nomeids, Tetragonurus, and stromateids. Monophyly of the Nomeidae and Stromateidae were supported by 2 and 11 synapomorphies, respectively.     

Chiasma Repatterning Across a Chromosomal Hybrid Zone Between Chromosomal Races of Mus Musculus Domesticus

Chiasma number and distribution were analysed in male house mice from a karyotypic hybrid zone between the CD race (2n=22) and the standard race (2n=40) located in central Italy. Chiasma repatterning occurs across the transect. The overall trend produces a diminution of chiasmata in the mice with CD chromosomal background. The progressive reduction of chiasmata indicates that genes could pass from one race to another in an asymmetrical way: from metacentric races to the standard population.     

Biofeedback of alveolar carbon dioxide tension and levels of arousal

This is a preliminary study designed to investigate the potential usefulness of alveolar (lung) CO₂ feedback training in promoting sleep onset in primary insomniacs. The present study was undertaken to determine if normal subjects could, without obvious manipulation of breathing, bring alveolar (lung) CO₂ tension under voluntary control using biofeedback techniques and, if so, whether this control would be accompanied by shifts in level of wakefulness. Subjects participated in five baseline and five training sessions in which EEG, alveolar CO₂ tension, and thoracic/abdominal respiratory movement were monitored. The feedback consisted of a pitch-modulated tone plus visual scores. We found that CO₂ tension in awake portions of up trials was significantly higher than for awake portions of down trials (p<.01), indicating that learning had occurred. In the initial trials, when subjects raised CO₂ tension they became drowsy and often fell asleep, and when they lowered CO₂ tension they aroused themselves. However, when subjects were awakened immediately upon falling asleep, there developed a decoupling of EEG and CO₂ changes. The presence of such a decoupling phenomenon makes it unclear whether CO₂ feedback will be useful in promoting sleep onset in primary insomniacs.This study was supported by National Institute of Mental Health Research Fellowship MH05151, Research Grant MH29369, Research Scientist Development Award MH38897, and by a Biomedical Research Support Grant to Langley Porter Institute, 507RR05755.     

Mapping of Changes in EEG Spectrum Power during a Session of Biofeedback Training of the β1 Rhythm

Changes in EEG spectrum power from 19 electrode sites were studied in 19 children with attention disorders during one session of EEG–biofeedback (EEG–BFB). EEG–BFB was aimed at increasing the relative power of the ₁ rhythm (15–18 Hz) in sites Fz–C ₃ with a bipolar electrode assembly. Comparison of the EEG spectrum powers at relaxation versus training periods in one BFB session revealed significant changes in the left parasagittal frontoparietal area (F ₃, Fz, C ₃, C ₄, P ₃).     

Daily relaxation modifies serum and salivary immunoglobulins and psychophysiologic symptom severity

This study investigated the effect of daily relaxation on concentrations of serum immunoglobulins A, G, and M and secretion rates of salivary immunoglobulin A (S-IgA). Twenty-four volunteers were randomly assigned to practice a relaxation technique daily for 3 weeks and 16 to a waiting list control condition. Blood and saliva samples were collected before and after a supervised 20-min relaxation session at the beginning and end of the 3-week practice period. S-IgA secretion rate increased significantly (p<.001) after 20 min of relaxation. A longer-term practice effect also occurred in that the increase in secretion rate in before to after relaxation samples was higher (p=.014) in subjects who had practiced relaxation once a day for 3 weeks than in waiting list control subjects practicing for the first time. Serum IgA (p<.001), IgG (p<.001), and igM (p<.05) increased significantly over the 3-week practice period. Relaxation may be a self-regulating strategy affecting both humoral and cellular divisions of the immune system.Parts of this paper were presented at the annual meeting of the Biofeedback Society of America, March 1987. Materials for the IgA assays were provided by Cooper Biomedical, Malvern, Pennsylvania.