Failure to uncover the effects of unconscious symbiotic fantasies on heart rate and fine motor performance.

18 men and 18 women were tachistoscopically shown the stimuli MOMMY AND I ARE ONE, DADDY AND I ARE ONE, and MYMMO NAD I REA ENO, at subjective thresholds (subliminal condition) and at 500 msec. (supraliminal condition). Following exposure to each stimulus, subjects performed a fine motor line-tracing task. Heart rate was monitored continuously during stimulus presentation and the fine motor task. Analysis showed subjects did not respond more positively with decreased heart rate or fewer errors on the fine motor task following the MOMMY message than the anagram phrase, thereby providing no support for the hypotheses. No correlation was found between responsiveness to the MOMMY message and scores on measures of self-perception and kinship. In the light of mounting negative evidence, the validity of the method of subliminal psychodynamic activation is questioned.

The method of subliminal psychodynamic activation: do individual thresholds make a difference?

The present experiment investigated the effects of subliminal psychodynamic stimuli on anxiety as measured by heart rate. Following an anxiety-inducing task, male and female subjects were tachistoscopically shown, at their subjective thresholds, one of five subliminal stimuli, MOMMY AND I ARE ONE, DADDY AND I ARE ONE (symbiotic messages). MOMMY HAS LEFT ME (abandonment message), I AM HAPPY AND CALM (positively toned but nonsymbiotic phrase), or MYMMO NAD I REA ENO (control stimulus). It was hypothesized that men would exhibit a greater decrease in heart rate after exposure to the MOMMY stimulus than the control message. No definitive predictions were made for women. The abandonment phrase was expected to increase heart rate. A positively toned message was included to assess whether its effects would be comparable to those hypothesized for the MOMMY message. The results yielded no significant effects for stimulus or gender and so provided no support for the hypotheses.

Effects of subliminal symbiotic stimuli on anxiety reduction.

The present study assessed the effectiveness of subliminal psychodynamic stimuli in reducing anxiety. 50 male and 50 female college students were tachistoscopically exposed to one of five stimuli: MOMMY AND I ARE ONE, DADDY AND I ARE ONE, I AM HAPPY WITH MYSELF, ONE, or a control stimulus MYMMO NAD I REA ENO. It was hypothesized that men would show a significant decrease in anxiety to the MOMMY stimulus, while women were expected to respond favorably to either the MOMMY or DADDY stimulus, or to both. Results showed that the subliminal stimuli did not produce differential effects on anxiety. This finding did not support previous claims for subliminal psychodynamic activation that the stimulation of symbiotic fantasy with the maternal figure produces positive behavioral effects. Despite this negative finding women's response to the MOMMY message was predicted by measures of self-perception.

Regenerative processes in peripheral nerve injury: a new method for their evaluation.

The objective of this study was to evaluate a new quantitative electrophysiologic method and instrumentation for assessing the regenerative process in peripheral nerve injuries. The method was based on spectrum analysis of myoelectric signals. Myoelectric data were obtained longitudinally from affected muscles of the upper limb in patients with traumatic brachial plexus injuries, and quantitatively subjected to on-line analysis. Bipolar surface recordings were made during voluntarily mediated motor unit activity at both a low level of activity (nonfatiguing state) and a maximal level (fatiguing state). The results over time for the low-level activity have shown a significant increase in mean frequency of the myoelectric signal in some muscles, a significant decrease in other muscles, and no change in still other muscles. A significant increase in amplitude was observed in every instance. During the maximal level of activity there was a reduction in mean frequency and the amount of reduction was shown to increase over time. The results are useful in indicating the occurrence of peripheral sprouting, axonal regrowth, of central reorganization, and in indicating improved metabolic activity in a muscle. It is concluded that the method is reliable in the study of the regenerative process.

Evaluation and prediction of regenerative processes by quantitative analysis of the electromyographic response and biofeedback in peripheral nerve injuries.

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively and objectively evaluate and monitor regenerative processes in peripheral nerve lesions using a new electrophysiological method, and to develop and evaluate an electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback training programme for the rehabilitation of patients with such injuries. Five patients with traumatic unilateral brachial plexus injuries participated in the study longitudinally on a twice-weekly basis. The electrophysiological method was based on quantitative on-line analyses of the myoelectric signal from affected muscles of the upper limb. The biofeedback programme was developed and used to: (1) increase maximum voluntary centrally mediated neuromuscular activity; (2) dissociate desired and interfering neuromuscular activity; and (3) improve patient control over the neuromuscular activity. The electrophysiological results have differentiated clearly between muscles where regeneration can be assumed to be in progress and muscles where it is not in progress. This differentiation can be made prior to the occurrence of any observable contraction in muscle under study. The biofeedback training resulted in improved neuromuscular function in all patients.

The effect of training on strength and endurance of the diaphragm in quadriplegia.

The diaphragmatic electromyogram was used to detect fatigue of the diaphragm in six chronic quadriplegics while they breathed for 10 minutes against a variety of inspiratory resistances. The maximum static inspiratory mouth pressure was measured at functional residual capacity (Pmmax) and from the electromyogram the critical inspiratory mouth pressure that developed in each inspiration (Pmcrit) below which electromyographic changes of diaphragmatic fatigue do not develop was estimated. The measurements were repeated after 8, 12 and 16 weeks of inspiratory muscle training consisting of inspiring for a period of 30 minutes daily, six days a week, against a resistance just sufficient to produce the electromyographic changes of fatigue. A significant and progressive increase in Pmmax and Pmcrit was found during the training. It was concluded that (1) quadriplegics are predisposed to the development of inspiratory muscle fatigue due to reduced muscle strength and reduction in endurance, and (2) in these patients inspiratory muscle training increases both strength and endurance, and protects against fatigue.

Hand orthotic device influence on fine neuromuscular control.

With the aid of electromyography, voluntary control of fine neuromuscular activity of deltoid and extensor digitorum communis muscles was studied in patients with motor dysfunction of the upper limb. A sequential training procedure was carried out both while the patient was wearing and not wearing a hand orthosis, during a static posture and dynamic hand movements. There was no difference between the levels of neuromuscular control achieved while wearing and not wearing the orthotic device, but the quality of the neuromuscular control was superior in the proximal limb muscle to that in the more distal muscle.

The effect of dantrium on spasticity of hemiplegic patients.

The effect of a new peripherally acting muscle relaxant drug Dantrium, on spasticity tested on 11 hemiplegic patients. The effect was evaluated both with regular clinical examination and with electromyographic technique. The latter concerned a quantitative analysis of the patients' voluntary control of fine neuromuscular activity both with and without the drug. The results indicated that spasticity was initially markedly reduced in the majority of the patients without, however, meaningfully increasing the daily-living functions of the patients. After a few months, the medication could be discontinued without any immediate increase in the spasticity. No severe side-effects were noted. In some cases, the medication had to be discontinued due to marked tiredness. Electromyographically, it was found that the ability of the patients to control fine neuromuscular activity with the paretic muscles was increased significantly with Dantrium, indicating that the reduction of the spasticity increased the ability for fine control of the muscles.

The effect of Dantrium on spasticity in spinal cord injuries.

The effect of a new, peripherally acting muscle relaxant drug (Dantrium) on spasticity was tested on 6 patients with spinal cord injuries. The effect was evaluated both by regular clinical examination and with an electromyographic technique. The latter concerned a quantitative analysis of the patients' ability to voluntarily control fine neuromuscular activity both with and without the drug. The results indicated that the spasticity was initially markedly reduced in all patients; in one case so markedly that the stability of the trunk was lost. Electromyographically it was found that the ability of the patients to relax the muscles was increased with Dantrium.