Behavioral Thermoregulation with Microwave Radiation of Albino Rats

1986 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 831-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
William F. Vitulli ◽  
Jerry M. Mott ◽  
Joseph M. Quinn ◽  
Kathy L. Loskamp ◽  
Rebecca S. Dodson
Keyword(s):  
Microwave Radiation ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Lever Press ◽  
Behavioral Thermoregulation ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Direct Function ◽  
Operant Responding ◽  
Reinforcing Value ◽  
Reversal Design

The objective of this exploratory study was to investigate the extent to which microwave radiation would reinforce operant behavior in a cold environment. A reversal-design with the single subject serving as its own control was used for testing the reinforcing properties of microwaves. Six albino rats were conditioned to produce 6-sec. pulses of microwave radiation within a refrigerated environment. The schedule of reinforcement was continuous (erf). Each lever press produced a 6-sec. output of microwave radiation. The intensity of radiation was varied across blocks of sessions in the reversal design. Microwave values used were as follows: 62.5 W, 125 W, 250 W, and 437.5 W. Sessions lasted from 8 to 9 hr. over an approximate 7-mo. period. Results showed that rates of operant responding varied as a direct function of microwave intensity. Relatively high mean rates were associated with moderate microwave intensity (250 W), whereas lower mean rates of responding were associated with extreme microwave intensities (62.5 W and 437.5 W) in the reversal design. These data are explained in terms of satiation and deprivation of the reinforcing value of microwave radiation.

Salty Solutions: Their Effects on Thermal Set Points in Behavioral Repertoires of Albino Rats

1994 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
William F. Vitulli ◽  
Rwanda Aker ◽  
Stanley W. Howard ◽  
Wendy M. Jones ◽  
Morgan W. Kimball ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Chloride ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Core Body Temperature ◽  
Behavioral Thermoregulation ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats ◽  
Reversal Design ◽  
Post Hoc

Salt (sodium chloride) has been linked to increased blood pressure and a rise in core body temperature. The objective of this study was to investigate the role played by salt in altering behavioral thermoregulation in albino rats. Different doses of sodium chloride were administered (ip) prior to fixed-interval 2-min. schedules of microwave reinforcement in rats tested in a cold Skinner Box. Three Sprague-Dawley rats were conditioned to regulate their thermal environment with 5-sec. exposures of MW reinforcement in a repeated-measures reversal design. Friedman's non-parametric test showed significant differences among sodium chloride doses and physiologically normal saline. Post hoc sign tests showed that all doses of NaCI suppressed operant behavior for heat except 60 mg/kg. The hypothesis that sodium chloride lowers hypothalamic set point for heat was partially supported.

Aspartame's Effects on Behavioral Thermoregulation in Albino Rats

1996 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
William F. Vitulli ◽  
Janet E. McAleer ◽  
Andrea C. Rockwell ◽  
Charles R. Granade ◽  
Deborah L. Parman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Positive Reinforcement ◽  
Behavioral Thermoregulation ◽  
Saline Control ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Reversal Design ◽  
Reinforcing Stimuli

Aspartame (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester) was administered intraperitoneally to 9 Sprague-Dawley rats partitioned into 2 studies (4 in Study 1 and 5 for a replication in Study 2) over a two-year period using a within-subjects, repeated-measures reversal design Behavioral thermoregulation was assessed in a cold Skinner Box using 5-sec. exposures of microwave radiation [Specific Absorption Rate = 0.34 Watts/kg/(mW/cm2)] as reinforcing stimuli under a fixed-interval 2-min. schedule of positive reinforcement. Two factorial analyses of variance [5 (doses) × 8 (hours)] indicated that the main effect for the doses of aspartame (2, 4, 8, 16 mg/kg, and saline control) was not significant; yet, the interaction (dose × hours) was significant (p<.05). Tentatively, aspartame should not cause an uncomfortable rise in body temperature (as sugar can do) when consumed in common substances such as soft drinks, yogurt, tea, coffee, etc., in doses commensurate with “hedonic” sweetness.

Insulin and Dextrose Effects on Fixed-Interval Behavioral Thermoregulation in Albino Rats

1990 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
William F. Vitulli ◽  
Connie P. Anderson ◽  
Joseph M. Quinn ◽  
Julie D. Jarvis
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Fixed Ratio ◽  
Regular Insulin ◽  
Fixed Interval ◽  
Behavioral Thermoregulation ◽  
Saline Control ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Operant Responding

This study is a systematic replication of the effects of insulin doses on operant behavior reinforced (in an earlier study) by fixed-ratio schedules of microwave (MW) reinforcement. In this study, insulin and dextrose doses were administered (ip) prior to fixed-interval 2-min. schedules of MW reinforcement in rats tested in a cold environment. Six Sprague-Dawley rats were conditioned to regulate their thermal environment with 5-sec. exposures of MW radiation (SAR = 0.34 Watts/kg/(mW/cm2) under the FI-2′ schedules. Humulin-regular insulin and 50% solutions of dextrose were administered (ip) alternately with saline control sessions for 8-hr. durations. A within-subjects, repeated-measures 4 × 8 × 3 factorial analysis of variance design showed that insulin doses suppressed operant responding for heat, which confirmed the results of the earlier study under a different schedule. In addition, high doses of dextrose had similar suppressing effects on operant responding for heat. The data are interpreted in terms of the discriminative properties of increased thermogenesis produced by the insulin and dextrose doses. The suppressing effects were more pronounced for the first two hours, yet they persisted for approximately six hours of the 8-hr. sessions.

Ibuprofen Effects on Behavioral Thermoregulation with Microwave Radiation in Albino Rats

2001 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 391-394
Author(s):  
William F. Vitulli ◽  
Yvette M. Nemeth ◽  
Christopher T. Conte
Keyword(s):  
Microwave Radiation ◽  
Behavioral Thermoregulation ◽  
Albino Rats

Behavioral Effects of Microwave Reinforcement Schedules and Variations in Microwave Intensity on Albino Rats

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 787-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
William F. Vitulli ◽  
J. Ken Lambert ◽  
Stella W. Brown ◽  
Joseph M. Quinn
Keyword(s):  
Microwave Radiation ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Fixed Ratio ◽  
Behavioral Effects ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Ratio Schedule ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Reinforcement Schedules ◽  
Continuous Reinforcement ◽  
Exploratory Investigation

The objective of this exploratory investigation was to determine the interactive effects of fixed-ratio scheduling of microwave reinforcement in tandem with changes in microwave intensity. Nine albino rats were conditioned to regulate their thermal environment with microwave radiation while living in a Skinner (operant conditioning) Box in which the ambient temperature was about 27.13°F at the beginning of the session. Each rat obtained a 6-sec. exposure of microwave radiation on a fixed-ratio schedule of MW reinforcement, the values of which varied from FR-1 to FR-30. Intensities of MW radiation were 62.5 W, 125 W, 250 W, and 437.5 W. Sessions lasted for 8 to 9 hr. over an approximate 13-mo. period. The effects of the intensity of microwave reinforcement varied as a function of the ratio value of the schedule used. Continuous reinforcement (FR-1) produced the lowest over-all rates, whereas FR-15, and FR-25 produced the highest over-all rates. Relatively higher thermal-behavior rates occurred under 62.5 W than under any of the other MW intensities for FR-1, FR-15, and FR-25, whereas FR-10 and FR-30 ratios produced intermediate rates of thermal responding which were constant for all values of MW intensity. These data are explained in terms of interactive effects between the “local” satiation or deprivation properties of the MW intensity and the ratio requirements of the schedule of MW reinforcement.

Effect of Aerobic Conditioning upon Mood in Clinically Depressed Men and Women: A Preliminary Investigation

1982 ◽  
Vol 55 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1217-1218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary W. Hartz ◽  
William L. Wallace ◽  
Tommie G. Cayton
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Aerobic Conditioning ◽  
Clinically Depressed ◽  
Reversal Design

A single-subject reversal design was used to test the hypothesis that aerobic conditioning would elevate mood in seven clinically depressed persons. The hypothesis was confirmed for two subjects but not for the group as a whole. A reversal design does not appear suitable for this area of investigation.

The Use of Single-subject Time-series Designs in Adapted Physical Activity

1984 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.J. Watkinson ◽  
D.L. Wasson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Time Series ◽  
Instructional Program ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Adapted Physical Activity ◽  
Mentally Handicapped ◽  
Instructional Programs ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Reversal Design ◽  
The University

The individualized nature of instructional programs for the mentally handicapped often makes group designs inappropriate in adapted physical activity research. Single-subject time-series designs are suitable for use in investigating the acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of motor skills when the research involves small numbers of subjects. These designs require the collection of data before, and during or after treatment. Three single-subject time-series designs are described and illustrated with data from studies in the PREP Play Program, an instructional program for young mentally handicapped children at the University of Alberta. The simple time-series design has severe limitations for use as a research tool, but is appropriate for use by teachers or practitioners who are monitoring previously tested treatments in physical activity programs. The repeated time-series or reversal design can be used to investigate the maintenance or generalization of effects after treatments are withdrawn. The multiplebaseline design is recommended for researchers or practitioners who wish to assess the effects of instructional programs on different subjects or different dependent variables.

Effects of Abdominal and Thoracic Breathing upon Multiple-Site Electromyography and Peripheral Skin Temperature

1995 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bret A. Boyer ◽  
Roger Poppen
Keyword(s):  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Performance Criteria ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Breathing Patterns ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Finger Temperature ◽  
Upper Trapezius ◽  
Abdominal Breathing ◽  
Reversal Design

Peripheral finger temperature, frontalis and upper trapezius EMG, and self-report of arousal were assessed for four subjects during abdominal and thoracic breathing in a single-subject reversal design. Two subjects displayed significant differences between abdominal and thoracic breathing conditions: one for frontalis EMG, trapezius EMG, and self-report of arousal and one for trapezius EMG. Two subjects showed no significant effects. All subjects reached performance criteria during training sessions. Abdominal breathing performance during reversals was 100% and 92% of sampled breath cycles for the two subjects who showed significant change, and 65% and 42% for the two subjects who showed none. Methodological issues for measurement of breathing patterns and peripheral skin temperature are discussed.

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