Psychophysiological assessment of personality using films as stimuli

O papel das emoções na relação confiança-exatidão do testemunho

<p>As emoções interferem com a evocação de acontecimentos importantes, afetando a relação confiança-exatidão (C-E) do testemunho. Foi avaliado o impacto das emoções após a visualização de imagens reais de acidentes de trânsito, bem como a sua influência na evocação posterior, tentando verificar como interferiram com a relação confiança-exatidão. A amostra foi constituída por 150 participantes voluntários com experiência de condução que preencheram questionários de autorrelato do impacto emocional e avaliação de detalhes relativos às imagens apresentadas. Os resultados demonstraram a ausência de relação entre confiança e exatidão no testemunho, tendo os participantes aceito com idêntica confiança conteúdos com informação verdadeira e com informação falsa. As emoções não se correlacionaram com a confiança, embora as emoções de nojo, desprezo e tristeza tenham apresentado uma correlação negativa com a exatidão. Os dados obtidos podem ser úteis no contexto forense.</p>

Genetic analysis of autonomic reactivity to psychologically stressful situations

We present the results of a behavioural genetics study on response profiles of autonomic measures (heart rate, blood pressure, and galvanic skin level), under ecologically valid, stressful conditions. Where response profiles of different physiological variables are the object of study, and when daily life stressors are taken into account (Turner and Hewitt, Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 14 (1992) 12-20), autonomic responsiveness to psychological stressors is thought to be an inherited trait. The participants were 100 female twin pairs, 57 monozygotic and 43 dizygotic twin pairs. Participants watched eight films with a stressful social content while autonomic measures were continuously recorded. Results show that the heritability coefficients of response profiles of autonomic measures are almost twice as high as that of single variables. The results further show that genes exert their influence on physiological behaviour not only directly, but also indirectly, by influencing the idiosyncratic relation between a person and his environment.

The analysis of a blood pressure diary for a patient report

In order to make a more valid assessment of blood pressure (BP), self-monitoring of BP by the patient is generally advised. Self-monitoring usually results in a lower BP level. We are currently investigating whether the BP lowering effect of self-monitoring may be enhanced by not only monitoring BP but also monitoring physical and emotional status at the moment of and activity prior to the BP measurement in a diary. In this article we focus on the individual feedback that the participating patients received. Various methods that can be used for this purpose are described. For our individual reports we first assessed linear trends in the variables. When a trend was present, residuals were calculated. Then a principal-components analysis on BP measurements, BP estimates, symptoms, moods, and activities was performed. Results are presented for two hypertensive patients.