scholarly journals LEARNING TO BE A PSYCHOSTIMULANTS ADDICT WITH SELF-REGULATION THERAPY

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Salvador Amigó ◽  
Joan C Micó ◽  
Antonio Caselles
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Drug Effect ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
General Factor ◽  
Stimulant Drug ◽  
General Factor Of Personality ◽  
Learning Procedure ◽  
Classic Conditioning ◽  
Complete Process

This article presents the results of a single-case experiment of alternative treatments in which a participant applied the Self-Regulation Therapy (SRT) to reproduce the effects of a stimulant drug, methylphenidate, and a sedative, alcohol. The SRT is a learning procedure based on classic conditioning and suggestion that reproduces the effect of drugs by remembering the effects they have. The participant reproduced the effects of both drugs during ten sessions held on 5 consecutive days. To record effects, adjective scales were used that measured Drug effect, High, Rush, Energy, Tension and the General Factor of Personality (GFP). The results indicated that the participant was capable of independently reproducing the effects of both the above-cited drugs, and that most of these effects were graphically represented as an inverted U-shape. This inverted U can be interpreted as a process in which effects of drugs become progressively more marked (sensitization) to become progressively less marked (tolerance). In this way, the inverted U represents the equivalent to a complete process of becoming addicted to a drug. The participant “learnt to be an addict” without using drugs. The theoretical implications and therapeutic potential of this procedure are discussed.

Changing the General Factor of Personality and the c-fos Gene Expression with Methylphenidate and Self-Regulation Therapy

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 850-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan C. Micó ◽  
Salvador Amigó ◽  
Antonio Caselles
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Stress System ◽  
General Factor ◽  
Stimulant Drug ◽  
Psychological Measures ◽  
General Factor Of Personality ◽  
Activation Level ◽  
Similar Dynamic

A deepening in the biological nature of the general factor of personality (GFP) is suggested: the activation level of the stress system is here represented by the gene expression of c-fos. The results of a single case experimental design are reported. A model of four coupled differential equations that explains the human personality dynamics as a consequence of a single stimulant drug intake has been fitted to psychological and biological experimental data. The stimulant-drug conditioning and its adaptation to the considered mathematical model is also studied for both kinds of measures. The dynamics of the c-fos expression presents a similar pattern to the dynamics of the psychological measures of personality assessed by the GFP-FAS (Five-Adjective Scale of the General Factor of Personality) as a consequence of a single dose of stimulant drug (methylphenidate). The model predicts similar dynamic patterns for both psychological and biological measures. This study proves that describing mathematically the dynamics of the effects of a stimulant drug as well as the effects of a conditioning method on psychological or subjective variables and on gene expression is possible. It verifies the existence of biological mechanisms underlying the dynamics of the General Factor of Personality (GFP).

scholarly journals CHANCHING THE EXTERNALIZING AND INTERNALIZING SPECTRUM OF PERSONALITY WITH SELF-REGULATION THERAPY

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Salvador Amigó ◽  
Joan C Micó ◽  
Antonio Caselles
Keyword(s):  
Self Regulation ◽  
Relaxation Effect ◽  
The Self ◽  
General Factor ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Stimulant Drugs ◽  
Group Design ◽  
General Factor Of Personality ◽  
Integrator Model ◽  
Classic Conditioning

This article presents an integrator model of changes in the externalizing and internalizing factors of personality grouped in the General Factor of Personality (GFP), based on the Unique Trait Personality Theory (UTPT) [1]. This theory proposes that a continuum exists between personality and psychopathology, as well as the existence of a GFP that occupies the apex of the hierarchy of personality, and extends from an impulsiveness-and-aggressiveness pole (externalizing spectrum) to an anxiety-and-introversion pole (internalizing spectrum). With an experimental intra-group design, 30 regular users of stimulant drugs (cocaine and amphetamine) used the Self-Regulation Therapy (SRT). The SRT is a psychological procedure based on classic conditioning and suggestion used to experience a relaxation effect after the first session, and a stimulation effect during the second session. This stimulation is achieved by reproducing, by the SRT, the sensations produced by stimulant drugs. Effects were recorded on format-state scales of personality adjectives and activation, which represented both externalizing and internalizing factors. The results showed that both relaxation and stimulation, by imitating the effects of drugs, brought about short-term changes in both the GFP, and the externalizing and internalizing factors, and also in the predicted direction, i.e., changes in global personality.

scholarly journals A GENETIC ALGORITHM TO CALIBRATE DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS: Confidence intervals for parameters and residuals

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Antonio Caselles ◽  
Joan C Micó ◽  
Salvador Amigó
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Dynamical Systems ◽  
Confidence Intervals ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Drug Dose ◽  
General Factor ◽  
Dynamical Response ◽  
Response Model ◽  
Stimulant Drug ◽  
General Factor Of Personality

This paper presents a genetic algorithm to calibrate dynamical systems that is able to calculate confidence intervals for the parameters of the system. As an application case is used to calibrate the system that reproduces the dynamical response of the General Factor of Personality (GFP) to a given stimulus, particularly to a stimulant drug dose. The model is called in Literature as the response model and includes an integro-differential equation. The presented application case is a single case ABC experimental design where the stimulus is methylphenidate.

scholarly journals Dynamics of the General Factor of Personality in Response to a Single Dose of Caffeine

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 675-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Caselles ◽  
Joan C. Micó ◽  
Salvador Amigó
Keyword(s):  
Single Dose ◽  
Sensation Seeking ◽  
General Factor ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Stimulant Drug ◽  
Personality Research ◽  
General Factor Of Personality ◽  
Sensation Seeking Scale ◽  
Affect Adjective ◽  
Experimental Group

General Factor of Personality (GFP) research is an emergent field in personality research. This paper uses a theoretical mathematical model to predict the short-term effects of a dose of a stimulant drug on GFP and reports the results of an experiment showing how caffeine achieves this. This study considers the General Factor of Personality Questionnaire (GFPQ) a good psychometric approach to assess GFP. The GFP dynamic mechanism of change is based on the Unique Trait Personality Theory (UTPT). This theory proposes the existence of GFP which occupies the apex of the hierarchy of personality, and extends from an impulsiveness-and-aggressiveness pole (approach tendency) to an anxiety-andintroversion pole (avoidance tendency). An experiment with 25 volunteers was performed. All the participants completed the GFPQ and the Sensation-Seeking Scale list of adjectives from the trait version of MAACL-R (Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist Revised) on an empty stomach. The participants in the experimental group (20) received 330 mg of caffeine. All the participants filled in a state version form with the sensation-seeking adjectives every 4.5 minutes. This study considers that the Sensation-Seeking Scale list of adjectives from the MAACL-R, available in both trait and state versions, is a good psychometric approach to assess GFP. The results show that GFP is modified by a single dose of caffeine in the direction predicted by the UTPT.

scholarly journals ADVANCES IN THE GENERAL FACTOR OF PERSONALITY DYNAMICS

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Joan C Micó ◽  
Salvador Amigó ◽  
Antonio Caselles
Keyword(s):  
Differential Equation ◽  
Experimental Design ◽  
Model Calibration ◽  
Drug Dose ◽  
General Factor ◽  
Dynamical Response ◽  
Response Model ◽  
Stimulant Drug ◽  
The Past ◽  
General Factor Of Personality

This paper presents a dynamical integro-differential equation to reproduce the dynamical response of the General Factor of Personality (GFP) to a stimulus dose, particularly to a stimulant drug dose. The model is called in the past authors publications as response model. We refer to it as the old response model, due to a new response model presented here that solves partially the problem of the model validation: how to forecast the GFP dynamical response from a previous model calibration. The application case presented is an individual ABC experimental design where the stimulus used is methylphenidate.      

scholarly journals Effects on Mood and EEG States After Meditation in Augmented Reality With and Without Adjunctive Neurofeedback

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Viczko ◽  
Jeff Tarrant ◽  
Ray Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Augmented Reality ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Mood State ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Current Source ◽  
The Self ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Open Heart ◽  
The Impact

Research and design of virtual reality technologies with mental-health focused applications has increased dramatically in recent years. However, the applications and psychological outcomes of augmented reality (AR) technologies still remain to be widely explored and evaluated. This is particularly true for the use of AR for the self-management of stress, anxiety, and mood. In the current study, we examined the impact of a brief open heart meditation AR experience on participants with moderate levels of anxiety and/or depression. Using a randomized between-group design subjects participated in the AR experience or the AR experience plus frontal gamma asymmetry neurofeedback integrated into the experience. Self-reported mood state and resting-state EEG were recorded before and after the AR intervention for both groups. Participants also reported on engagement and perceived use of the experience as a stress and coping tool. EEG activity was analyzed as a function of the frontal, midline, and parietal scalp regions, and with sLORETA current source density estimates of anterior cingulate and insular cortical regions of interest. Results demonstrated that both versions of the AR meditation significantly reduced negative mood and increased positive mood. The changes in resting state EEG were also comparable between groups, with some trending differences observed, in line with existing research on open heart and other loving-kindness and compassion-based meditations. Engagement was favorable for both versions of the AR experience, with higher levels of engagement reported with the addition of neurofeedback. These results provide early support for the therapeutic potential of AR-integrated meditations as a tool for the self-regulation of mood and emotion, and sets the stage for more research and development into health and wellness-promoting AR applications.

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