Some relationships between personality, arousal and the strength of the excitatory process

The primary object of the present investigation was to test the inverted 'U' model developed by investigators of 'arousal' in the west and of the 'strength of the excitatory process' in the Soviet Union to explain the relationship between a variety of factors and measures of behavioural, subjective and physiological response. In the present project adult human subjects took part in four experiments. The following factors were investigated in one or more of them: introversion, neuroticism, 'strength of the excitatory process', stimulus intensity, stimulus duration, signal frequency, signal probability, accessory stimulation, time on task, task repetition and time of cay. Measures of psychoticism were also taken. The response indices included: gustatory measures, reaction time, signal detection theory measures, vigilance scores, autonomic indices and measures of subjective state. Support for the model emerged most strongly in the form of certain lower order interactions between the factors, for example between introversion and neuroticism for simple auditory reaction time, and between neuroticism and time of day for the speed of response to signals in a vigilance task. Support from higher order interactions was less forthcoming. Compared to low N subjects, high N subjects scored relatively low on the 'strength of the excitatory process' as measured by Nebylitsyn's index of the slope of the simple visual reaction time / stimulus intensity function. It was suggested, furthermore, that previously discrepant findings with respect-to introversion using this measure nay have been due to response bias effects, though experimental test of this idea yielded non-significant results. Though only partial support for the model was obtained it was considered to remain a useful conceptual tool, and possible practical implications were discussed.<p

Some relationships between personality, arousal and the strength of the excitatory process

The primary object of the present investigation was to test the inverted 'U' model developed by investigators of 'arousal' in the west and of the 'strength of the excitatory process' in the Soviet Union to explain the relationship between a variety of factors and measures of behavioural, subjective and physiological response. In the present project adult human subjects took part in four experiments. The following factors were investigated in one or more of them: introversion, neuroticism, 'strength of the excitatory process', stimulus intensity, stimulus duration, signal frequency, signal probability, accessory stimulation, time on task, task repetition and time of cay. Measures of psychoticism were also taken. The response indices included: gustatory measures, reaction time, signal detection theory measures, vigilance scores, autonomic indices and measures of subjective state. Support for the model emerged most strongly in the form of certain lower order interactions between the factors, for example between introversion and neuroticism for simple auditory reaction time, and between neuroticism and time of day for the speed of response to signals in a vigilance task. Support from higher order interactions was less forthcoming. Compared to low N subjects, high N subjects scored relatively low on the 'strength of the excitatory process' as measured by Nebylitsyn's index of the slope of the simple visual reaction time / stimulus intensity function. It was suggested, furthermore, that previously discrepant findings with respect-to introversion using this measure nay have been due to response bias effects, though experimental test of this idea yielded non-significant results. Though only partial support for the model was obtained it was considered to remain a useful conceptual tool, and possible practical implications were discussed.<p

Effective Techniques in Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Interventions: A Meta-Regression

This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record(c) 2012 APA, all rights reservedOBJECTIVE: Meta-analyses of behavior change (BC) interventions typically find large heterogeneity in effectiveness and small effects. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of active BC interventions designed to promote physical activity and healthy eating and investigate whether theoretically specified BC techniques improve outcome. DESIGN: Interventions, evaluated in experimental or quasi-experimental studies, using behavioral and/or cognitive techniques to increase physical activity and healthy eating in adults, were systematically reviewed. Intervention content was reliably classified into 26 BC techniques and the effects of individual techniques, and of a theoretically derived combination of self-regulation techniques, were assessed using meta-regression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Valid outcomes of physical activity and healthy eating. RESULTS: The 122 evaluations (N = 44,747) produced an overall pooled effect size of 0.31 (95% confidence interval = 0.26 to 0.36, I(2) = 69%). The technique, "self-monitoring," explained the greatest amount of among-study heterogeneity (13%). Interventions that combined self-monitoring with at least one other technique derived from control theory were significantly more effective than the other interventions (0.42 vs. 0.26). CONCLUSION: Classifying interventions according to component techniques and theoretically derived technique combinations and conducting meta-regression enabled identification of effective components of interventions designed to increase physical activity and healthy eating

Identifying the science and technology dimensions of emerging public policy issues through horizon scanning

Public policy requires public support, which in turn implies a need to enable the public not just to understand policy but also to be engaged in its development. Where complex science and technology issues are involved in policy making, this takes time, so it is important to identify emerging issues of this type and prepare engagement plans. In our horizon scanning exercise, we used a modified Delphi technique [1]. A wide group of people with interests in the science and policy interface (drawn from policy makers, policy adviser, practitioners, the private sector and academics) elicited a long list of emergent policy issues in which science and technology would feature strongly and which would also necessitate public engagement as policies are developed. This was then refined to a short list of top priorities for policy makers. Thirty issues were identified within broad areas of business and technology; energy and environment; government, politics and education; health, healthcare, population and aging; information, communication, infrastructure and transport; and public safety and national security.Public policy requires public support, which in turn implies a need to enable the public not just to understand policy but also to be engaged in its development. Where complex science and technology issues are involved in policy making, this takes time, so it is important to identify emerging issues of this type and prepare engagement plans. In our horizon scanning exercise, we used a modified Delphi technique [1]. A wide group of people with interests in the science and policy interface (drawn from policy makers, policy adviser, practitioners, the private sector and academics) elicited a long list of emergent policy issues in which science and technology would feature strongly and which would also necessitate public engagement as policies are developed. This was then refined to a short list of top priorities for policy makers. Thirty issues were identified within broad areas of business and technology; energy and environment; government, politics and education; health, healthcare, population and aging; information, communication, infrastructure and transport; and public safety and national security

The role of inflammation in the relationship of self-rated health with mortality and implications for public health : Data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA)

Self-rated health (SRH) predicts mortality after adjustment for potential confounders, including measures of health status. Prodromal disease might lead to worsened SRH and higher mortality. But no study of SRH and mortality has focussed on inflammation. The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of inflammation upon the association between SRH and mortality in a British cohort. The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) involves interviewing participants aged over 50 every two years. We analysed data for 3405 men and 4139 women. Mortality for consenting members was detected by linkage with UK National Health Care registry up to March 2012. Demographic, clinical, and health behaviours at wave 2 were treated as confounders, as well as inflammation-related disease and C-reactive protein (CRP). A five-step hierarchical multivariable logistic regression was estimated. An association was observed between SRH and mortality after adjusting for all variables. In men, compared to those with excellent health, CRP only, and CRP and inflammation-related disease combined, could explain 7.03% and 24.35% of increased risk of dying associated with poor health, respectively. For women, the corresponding figures were 8.95% and 24.28%, respectively. Inflammation is associated with increased risk of death, and may help to explain approximately a quarter of the association between SRH and mortality. Individuals with relatively poor SRH may be aware of underlying inflammation that increases the risk of illness and death, and this may lead to increased use of services, for example. Identifying the cause and treating inflammation in those without a diagnosis may help to increase survival and life quality among those who perceive their health to be relatively poor

Greater variation in affect is associated with lower fasting plasma glucose

Background: Depression and bipolar illness are associated with a 2–3 fold increase in the prevalence of diabetes. However, it is unknown whether variation in mood affects glucose metabolism. The aim of this study was to assess whether changes in affect were related to fasting plasma glucose and glycated haemoglobin. Methods: 379 men and 441 women who took part in the 2003 Health Survey for England and had valid data for GHQ12 and fasting blood glucose were included. Mood variability was assessed by the General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ12). Fasting plasma glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured by standard laboratory methodology and their relationship to variability assessed using linear regression. Results: There was a significant inverse relationship between fasting blood glucose, but not HbA1c, and variability score (R2 = 0.327, p = 0.02) after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, anthropometric measurements, lifestyle, and use of medication. Conclusion: This study has shown an inverse association between changes in affect and fasting plasma glucose. This unexpected finding suggests that the association between affect and glucose is more complex than previously thought. Fasting blood glucose may reflect the operation of homeostatic mechanisms that are disturbed in certain mental states and are associated, therefore, with altered risk of diabetes and related metabolic conditions. This may have implications for the management of those with such conditions and with mental disorders