Monitoring Cognitive and Emotional Processes Through Pupil and Cardiac Response During Dynamic Versus Logical Task

The paper deals with the links between physiological measurements and cognitive and emotional functioning. As long as the operator is a key agent in charge of complex systems, the definition of metrics able to predict his performance is a great challenge. The measurement of the physiological state is a very promising way but a very acute comprehension is required; in particular few studies compare autonomous nervous system reactivity according to specific cognitive processes during task performance and task related psychological stress is often ignored. We compared physiological parameters recorded on 24 healthy subjects facing two neuropsychological tasks: a dynamic task that require problem solving in a world that continually evolves over time and a logical task representative of cognitive processes performed by operators facing everyday problem solving. Results showed that the mean pupil diameter change was higher during the dynamic task; conversely, the heart rate was more elevated during the logical task. Finally, the systolic blood pressure seemed to be strongly sensitive to psychological stress. A better taking into account of the precise influence of a given cognitive activity and both workload and related task-induced psychological stress during task performance is a promising way to better monitor operators in complex working situations to detect mental overload or pejorative stress factor of error

Mind Perception: Real but Not Artificial Faces Sustain Neural Activity beyond the N170/VPP

Faces are visual objects that hold special significance as the icons of other minds. Previous researchers using event-related potentials (ERPs) have found that faces are uniquely associated with an increased N170/vertex positive potential (VPP) and a more sustained frontal positivity. Here, we examined the processing of faces as objects vs. faces as cues to minds by contrasting images of faces possessing minds (human faces), faces lacking minds (doll faces), and non-face objects (i.e., clocks). Although both doll and human faces were associated with an increased N170/VPP from 175–200 ms following stimulus onset, only human faces were associated with a sustained positivity beyond 400 ms. Our data suggest that the N170/VPP reflects the object-based processing of faces, whether of dolls or humans; on the other hand, the later positivity appears to uniquely index the processing of human faces—which are more salient and convey information about identity and the presence of other minds

Influência da imersão nas respostas cardiorrespiratórias em repouso Influence of immersion on resting cardiorespiratory responses

Diversos benefícios nos componentes da aptidão física podem ser adquiridos com a prática de exercícios aquáticos. Além disso, a água proporciona um ambiente para a prática de exercícios com reduzido impacto nos membros inferiores e maior ou menor sobrecarga cardiorrespiratória, de acordo com os movimentos realizados. Porém, tais exercícios podem produzir respostas fisiológicas diferentes daquelas ao ar livre, visto que ocorrem alterações fisiológicas importantes durante a imersão, sendo importante a compreensão das mesmas em repouso para melhor prescrição nesse meio. O presente estudo tem como objetivo revisar estudos sobre o comportamento da frequência cardíaca e do consumo de oxigênio durante a imersão em repouso e compreender os fatores que influenciam nesse comportamento. Várias pesquisas indicam que a frequência cardíaca de repouso é reduzida com a imersão em meio aquático, porém, é importante salientar que fatores tais como temperatura da água, posição corporal, profundidade de imersão e frequência cardíaca inicial podem minimizar ou maximizar tais respostas. Os estudos que abordaram as respostas de consumo de oxigênio não são conclusivos; entretanto, ao contrário da frequência cardíaca, os mesmos indicam semelhante ou maior resposta durante a imersão em repouso. Assim, pode-se concluir que, devido às alterações cardiorrespiratórias verificadas com a imersão em ambiente aquático, a prescrição de exercícios nesse meio deve ser diferenciada daquela para exercícios em ambiente terrestre.<br>Several benefits in the physical fitness components can be acquired with the practice of aquatic exercises. Moreover, water provides an environment for the practice of exercises with reduced impact on lower limbs and major or minor cardiorespiratory overload, depending on the movements performed. However, such exercises can produce physiological responses different from those on dry land, since important physiological alterations occur during immersion, being important to understand them at rest for better prescription in this environment. The present study has the purpose to review studies about the heart rate behavior and the oxygen uptake during immersion at rest and to understand the factors that influence in this behavior. Several investigations indicate that heart rate at rest is reduced with immersion in aquatic environment; however, it is important to highlight that factors such as water temperature, body position, immersion depth and initial heart rate may minimize or maximize such responses. The studies which approached the oxygen uptake responses are not conclusive; however, contrary to heart rate, the same ones indicate similar or greater response during immersion at rest. Thus, it can be concluded that, due to the verified cardiorespiratory alterations with immersion in aquatic environment, the prescription of exercises in this environment must be differentiated from exercises on dry land

Using Labels to Investigate Scope Effects in Stated Preference Methods

Scope test, Embedding, Warm glow, Label effect, Choice experiment, Contingent valuation, Biodiversity valuation, National park,