[Effects of aging on psychological and physiological function: differences in tree test, GHQ (general health questionnaire), aspiration task, and cardiovascular parameters].

Blood pressure and heart rate were assessed in 20 old (65-82), 20 middle (35-51), and 50 young (20-26) people during an aspiration performance task, and the GHQ and tree test were given preceding the aspiration task. More older than younger subjects exhibited systolic and diastolic blood pressure increases during the task; heart rate was faster in the older subjects. While there were no GHQ differences among the groups, the trunk length measured from ground to the lowest branch compared to the total height of tree for older subjects was larger than that of younger subjects. Behavioral measures reflecting aspiration levels were discussed in relation to aging.

Motor response information influence on CNV shape and resolution time.

This study systematically investigates changes in CNV waveform shape and resolution time that result from the presentation of facilitatory, inhibitory, or no motor response (MR) information simultaneously with the warning (S1) or imperative (S2) stimulus of the S1-S2-MR CNV paradigm. Analyses indicate that the simultaneous presentation of S1 and information to produce or inhibit a MR attenuates initial CNV development. Further, when the S1 information is inhibitive, CNV development is retarded throughout. The contribution of an inhibitory psychological process during CNV development is proposed. The data also indicate that CNV resolution time is not dependent on the presence of a motor response. It is suggested that CNV resolution time is indicative of psychological completion or closure.

[Relationship between verbal information processing and CNV pattern: effects of the numbers of letter and word upon CNV components].

The present experiment was designed to examine the effects of the numbers of letter and word upon CNV components, by using a modified Sternberg's paradigm. The results indicated that CNV amplitude decreased and CNV rising time increased as a function of the numbers of letter and word. CNV resolution time increased with the number of word, while no increase in resolution time was observed with the number of letter. These findings were discussed in relation to recent information processing models.

[Contingent negative variation (CNV) and lexical decision task].

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of verbal information processing upon CNV, using a lexical decision task. Subjects performed a choice reaction time (RT) task under possible combinations of sense and nonsense syllables serving as warning (S1) and imperative (S2) stimuli. The results showed that CNV developed exclusively when the expectant information for motor response was given at S1. It was also found that CNV resolution time as well as RT was shorter in the near meaning condition than in the far meaning condition. These findings were discussed in relation to verbal information processing.

[Analysis of resolution of CNV (author's transl)].

The present study was designed to explore the factor affecting the resolution of CNV by using the paradigm in which the attention was experimentally manipulated. The control group (N=13) was given an instruction for conducting the ordinary CNV task, while the experimental group (N=26) was instructed to direct the attention to the different S2 durations. The results obtained showed that in the control group the CNV resolution occurred after the S2 onset, although in the experimental group the resolution occurred after the S2 offset. Considering the findings of this study and of Kakigi, Matsuda, and Hagino (1978) together, it was suggested that the CNV resolution was initiated by the psychological factor, not depending upon the external stimulus nor the key pressing response.

Developmental study of human visual and auditory evoked responses.

The present study investigated the development of visual evoked response by varying the physical factor of photic stimulus size and the psychological factor of age and the development of auditory evoked response was investigated on habituation trials, using the subjects of wide range in ages. The results showed that visual evoked response decreased in amplitude as a function of age and increased as a function of stimulus size and the auditory evoked response also decreased in amplitude as a function of age, while no prominent habituation of evoked response over the trial blocks was observed.