scholarly journals Subjective and Psychophysiological Indexes of Listening Effort in a Competing-Talker Task

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (02) ◽  
pp. 113-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol L. Mackersie ◽  
Heather Cones
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Task Demand ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Subjective Ratings ◽  
Listening Effort ◽  
Psychophysiological Responses ◽  
Task Load ◽  
Psychophysiological Measures

Background: The effects of noise and other competing backgrounds on speech recognition performance are well documented. There is less information, however, on listening effort and stress experienced by listeners during a speech-recognition task that requires inhibition of competing sounds. Purpose: The purpose was (a) to determine if psychophysiological indexes of listening effort were more sensitive than performance measures (percentage correct) obtained near ceiling level during a competing speech task, (b) to determine the relative sensitivity of four psychophysiological measures to changes in task demand, and (c) to determine the relationships between changes in psychophysiological measures and changes in subjective ratings of stress and workload. Research Design: A repeated-measures experimental design was used to examine changes in performance, psychophysiological measures, and subjective ratings in response to increasing task demand. Study Sample: Fifteen adults with normal hearing participated in the study. The mean age of the participants was 27 (range: 24–54). Data Collection and Analysis: Psychophysiological recordings of heart rate, skin conductance, skin temperature, and electromyographic (EMG) activity were obtained during listening tasks of varying demand. Materials from the Dichotic Digits Test were used to modulate task demand. The three levels of task demand were single digits presented to one ear (low-demand reference condition), single digits presented simultaneously to both ears (medium demand), and a series of two digits presented simultaneously to both ears (high demand). Participants were asked to repeat all the digits they heard, while psychophysiological activity was recorded simultaneously. Subjective ratings of task load were obtained after each condition using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index questionnaire. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were completed for each measure using task demand and session as factors. Results: Mean performance was higher than 96% for all listening tasks. There was no significant change in performance across listening conditions for any listener. There was, however, a significant increase in mean skin conductance and EMG activity as task demand increased. Heart rate and skin temperature did not change significantly. There was no strong association between subjective and psychophysiological measures, but all participants with mean normalized effort ratings of greater than 4.5 (i.e., effort increased by a factor of at least 4.5) showed significant changes in skin conductance. Conclusions: Even in the absence of substantial performance changes, listeners may experience changes in subjective and psychophysiological responses consistent with the activation of a stress response. Skin conductance appears to be the most promising measure for evaluating individual changes in psychophysiological responses during listening tasks.

What makes music relaxing? An investigation into musical elements

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugenia Hernandez-Ruiz ◽  
Bianca James ◽  
Jordan Noll ◽  
Evangelia G. Chrysikou
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Respiration Rate ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Skin Conductance Level ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Bass Clarinet ◽  
Psychophysiological Responses ◽  
Psychophysiological Measures ◽  
Psychophysiological Data ◽  
Musical Elements

Research on specific qualities of music used for relaxation has shown conflicting results. The use of different familiar or pre-composed pieces, with many simultaneous changes, might limit the ability to discriminate which musical element is responsible for the relaxation response. To address the latter, we examined the relaxing effects of music on three psychophysiological measures (heart rate, respiration rate, and skin conductance) with one original piece of music, and three modified versions (altering one musical element in each version). We investigated whether participants’ psychophysiological responses reflected a more “relaxed” state (lower heart rate, respiration rate, and skin conductance) with slower tempo (45 bpm), mellow timbre (bass clarinet), or smaller amplitude (-10 dB). We also investigated whether psychophysiological responses were consistent with self-report scores. Visual inspection of psychophysiological data indicated two distinct responder profiles, and a logistic regression confirmed this distinction. Using mixed ANCOVAs, we found significant differences between participants (responders and non-responders) in skin conductance level. No correlations between psychophysiological measures and self-reports were found. These findings raise interesting questions regarding the mechanisms behind the relaxing effects of music.

Human Psychophysiology and PTSD

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanja Jovanovic ◽  
Seth Davin Norrholm
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Clinical Research ◽  
Fear Conditioning ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Muscle Contractions ◽  
Pavlovian Fear Conditioning ◽  
Psychophysiological Measures ◽  
Biological Assessments

Psychophysiological measures provide useful tools for investigating neurobiological mechanisms of trauma-related sequalae. In addition, they can serve as objective biological assessments of symptom severity in clinical research. This chapter describes the methods for collection of psychophysiological measures. These include muscle contractions (startle), electrodermal skin conductance, heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV) at baseline, under stress, and following Pavlovian fear conditioning. These approaches are important both for understanding biology as well as for providing objective biomarkers that can be compared translationally from animals to humans. It also reviews the literature that has used these measures in PTSD. The evidence to date strongly suggests that these data provide robust correlates of PTSD severity.

Psychophysiological Changes following Auditory Subliminal Suggestions for Activation and Deactivation

1983 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 759-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Borgeat ◽  
Jean Goulet
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
White Noise ◽  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Analysis Of Variance ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Psychophysiological Responses ◽  
Skin Conductance Levels ◽  
Control Situation

This study was to measure eventual psychophysiological changes resulting from auditory subliminal activation or deactivation suggestions. 18 subjects were alternately exposed to a control situation and to 25-dB activating and deactivating suggestions masked by a 40-dB white noise. Physiological measures (EMG, heart rate, skin-conductance levels and responses, and skin temperature) were recorded while subjects listened passively to the suggestions, during a stressing task that followed and after that task. Multivariate analysis of variance showed a significant effect of the activation subliminal suggestions during and following the stressing task. This result is discussed as indicating effects of consciously unrecognized perceptions on psychophysiological responses.

Psychophysiological Responses During the Anticipation of Emotional Pictures

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja Schumacher ◽  
Uwe Herwig ◽  
Volker Baur ◽  
Christoph Mueller-Pfeiffer ◽  
Chantal Martin-Soelch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Brain Imaging ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Negative Bias ◽  
Imaging Studies ◽  
Psychophysiological Responses ◽  
Emotional Pictures

The present study sought to investigate peripheral physiological responses to the anticipation of explicitly and ambiguously cued emotional pictures. Emotionally positive and negative as well as neutral pictures were presented to 32 healthy subjects. At the beginning of an anticipation period they were cued about the valence of the upcoming picture (neutral, positive, negative, or ambiguous). Skin conductance, heart rate, and zygomaticus and corrugator electromyogram responses were measured during anticipation and perception. Responses specific to the emotional conditions were observed during anticipation as well as during perception. During the anticipation of ambiguously cued pictures, responses were similar to responses elicited by anticipating negative pictures. In line with results from brain imaging studies, peripheral physiological responses could be interpreted to reflect a negative bias for ambiguous events.

The Psychophysiological Differentiation of Emotional Memories

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul S. Foster ◽  
Daniel G. Webster ◽  
Edward W. L. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Skin Resistance ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Personality Questionnaire ◽  
Psychophysiological Responses ◽  
Emotional Memories ◽  
Repeated Measures Analysis ◽  
Life Circumstances ◽  
The Relationship

Participants' heart rate and skin resistance responses to emotional memories (fear, anger, joy, sadness, and embarrassment) were studied to determine if the recollection of emotion is sufficient to produce psychophysiological changes, to determine if such changes differ for the various emotions, and to determine the relationship between imaginal abilities and psychophysiological responses to emotional memories. The Absorption Scale of the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire was used as the measure of imaginal ability [1]. A repeated measures analysis of variance indicated significant differences for skin resistance but not heart rate among emotional memories, F(5,75) = 4.22, p = .002. Recollection of emotional memories, therefore, can produce psychophysiological changes in skin resistance which resemble emotions in real-life circumstances. A theoretical framework for interpretation of results on emotional memories is presented.

Evidence of a Decrease in Heart Rate and Skin Conductance Responses in PTSD Patients After a Single EMDR Session

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Aubert-Khalfa ◽  
Jacques Roques ◽  
Olivier Blin
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Psychophysiological Responses ◽  
Skin Conductance Responses ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Trauma Recall ◽  
Emdr Therapy

Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) demonstrate abnormal psychophysiological responses to stressful events. Given that eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy appears to be a treatment of choice for trauma victims, the aim of the present study was to determine if psychophysiological responses to stress decreased after a single EMDR session. Six PTSD patients were treated by an EMDR therapist. Their psychophysiological responses (heart rate and skin conductance) were recorded before and after the EMDR session under two conditions: (a) in a relaxed state and (b) while visualizing their own traumatic event. At the end of the session, all patients had a significant reduction in their PTSD symptoms, which confirms previous results demonstrating the efficacy of the EMDR approach. Second, after only one EMDR session, heart rate and skin conductance during the trauma recall decreased significantly as compared to a relaxing state.

Gaming in Virtual Reality: What Changes in Terms of Usability, Emotional Response and Sense of Presence Compared to Non-Immersive Video Games?

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Pallavicini ◽  
Alessandro Pepe ◽  
Maria Eleonora Minissi
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Video Games ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Emotional Response ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Reality Condition ◽  
Sense Of Presence

Background. Virtual reality can provide innovative gaming experiences for present and future game players. However, scientific knowledge is still limited about differences between player’s experience in video games played in immersive modalities and games played in non-immersive modalities (i.e., on a desktop display). Materials and method. Smash Hit was played by 24 young adults in immersive (virtual reality) and non-immersive (desktop) condition. Self-report questionnaires (VAS-A, VAS-HP, VAS-SP, SUS, SUS-II) and psycho-physiological measures (heart rate and skin conductance) were used to assess usability, emotional response and the reported sense of presence. Results. No statistical differences emerged between the immersive and the non-immersive condition regarding usability and performance scores. The general linear model for repeated measures conducted on VAS-A, VAS-HP, VAS-SP scores for the virtual reality condition supported the idea that playing in the immersive display modality was associated with higher self-reported happiness and surprise; analysis on SUS-II revealed that the perceived sense of presence was higher in the virtual reality condition Discussion and conclusion. The proposed study provides evidence that (a) playing a video game in virtual reality was not more difficult than playing through a desktop display; (b) players showed a more intense emotional response, as assessed by self-report questionnaires and with psycho-physiological indexes (heart rate and skin conductance), after playing in virtual reality versus after playing through the desktop display; (c) the perceived sense of presence was found to be greater in virtual reality as opposed to the non-immersive condition.

Embodiment of Narrative Engagement

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 175-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Freya Sukalla ◽  
Helena Bilandzic ◽  
Paul D. Bolls ◽  
Rick W. Busselle
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Emotional Content ◽  
Emotional Engagement ◽  
Narrative Persuasion ◽  
Mental Processes ◽  
Narrative Engagement

Abstract. This study investigated the validity of the narrative engagement scale ( Busselle & Bilandzic, 2009 ) by grounding the dimensions of the scale in relationships between self-reported narrative engagement and embodied mental processes occurring during exposure. Psychophysiological measures were used to observe real-time variation in mental processes activated when individuals viewed narrative content that was manipulated in two fundamental content characteristics: cohesion and emotional content. The results of a 2 (low vs. high cohesion) × 2 (low vs. high emotional content) × 3 (video clips) mixed model repeated measures experiment showed consistent influences of cohesion and emotional content on self-reported narrative engagement as well as psychophysiological indicators (heart rate, skin conductance, corrugator activity). Confirming the hypotheses, self-reported attentional focus was related to lower levels of heart rate, while self-reported emotional engagement was positively related to corrugator activity. Both attentional focus and emotional engagement were related to increases of skin conductance levels over time. The results support the validity of the dimensional concept of narrative engagement and open further avenues for clarifying mechanisms of narrative persuasion.

Physiological and Musico-Acoustic Correlates of the Chill Response

2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 473-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Guhn ◽  
Alfons Hamm ◽  
Marcel Zentner
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Subjective Ratings ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Acoustic Correlates ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Physiological Reactions ◽  
Similar Dynamic

LISTENING TO MUSIC OFTEN EVOKES affective states that are accompanied by distinctive subjective experiences and specific physiological changes. In this study, we examined the phenomenon of chills and its concomitant physiological reactions. In a preliminary study, experimenter-selected music excerpts were played to 27 participants, and musical passages especially apt toelicit chill experiences were identified on the basis of subjective ratings. In a subsequent study with 27 new participants, subjective chill experiences and physiological responses were recorded in real time. The highest numbers of chills were experienced during musical passages characterized by similar dynamic, harmonic, and structural characteristics, which coincided with distinct patterns of heart rate and skin conductance increases. For participants experiencing a chill during these passages, increases in skin conductance were significantly larger than for participants without chills. The heart rate response did not differ between groups.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document