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A plethysmographic method for demonstrating the response specificity of the oral vascular bed
Author(s) -
GOLDSTEIN HARRIS S.,
EDELBERG ROBERT
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8986.1997.tb02423.x
Subject(s) - plethysmograph , psychology , cardiology , medicine
In this paper, we describe a new method for measuring the oral plethysmogram, and we assess its sensitivity and specificity under differing psychological stimulation. Finger and palate pulse amplitudes and blood pressure were monitored while individuals ( N = 13) performed several tasks: mental arithmetic, nausea imagery, fear imagery, and anger imagery. Pulse pressure, having a major effect on pulse amplitude, was partialed out in analyses. Palate pulse amplitude increased significantly in response to the degree to which the individual felt irritated, judged, nauseated, or angry. In contrast, finger pulse amplitude changed significantly only in the arithmetic task and, unlike the palate, showed a decreased amplitude with increased irritation and being judged. Results indicate that the oral plethysmogram can serve as a reliable measure of oral mucosal vasomotor reactivity and that it has a different pattern of response specificity than does the finger.