PSYC 2740 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Reticular Formation, Sympathetic Nervous System, Autonomic Nervous System
14 Apr 2013
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Document Summary
Requires specific conditions (audience) under which a specific personality characteristic (shyness) will produce a physiological indicator (heart rate. ) Electrodes: most common of measures; senors placed on surface of skin; drawback participant is wired to recording machine (polygraph) so movement is constrained. Telemetry: electric signals are sent from the participant to the polygraph through radio waves instead of wires; being used on astronauts. Sympathetic nervous system: branch of the autonomic nervous system that prepares body for action (flight or fight); sweat glands on palms of hands or feet are controlled by this. Before the sweat is visible, it can be detected through electricity, since water conducts electricity; skin conductance allows researchers to monitor sympathetic nervous system activity. Emotional reactivity: intensity and persistence of emotion in response to stimuli; thought to be elevated among those who self-injure, particularly those with negative events/stressful tasks; included stress in 2 groups and measured skin conductance.
