University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Psychophysiology of Visual Recognition Memory (Vagal Tone)

Linnemeyer, Susan Alice

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/68892

Description

Title
Psychophysiology of Visual Recognition Memory (Vagal Tone)
Author(s)
Linnemeyer, Susan Alice
Issue Date
1984
Department of Study
Education
Discipline
Education
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • Education, Educational Psychology
  • Psychology, Developmental
Abstract
  • Individual differences in visual recognition memory and heart rate variability were assessed in 14 six-month-old infants. Heart rate and respiration were recorded for a 5-minute baseline period. For the recognition memory problem, one multidimensional problem was presented with the paired comparison technique. Mean heart period was measured for each of the within-trial segments (pre-stimulus, onset, and offset) during each part of the recognition memory problem (familiarization, test trial 1, and test trial 2). A PDP 11/03 micro-computer controlled the presentation of the problem and the collection of the physiological and visual fixation data.
  • Spectral analyses were performed on the baseline physiological data to derive an estimate of vagal tone. (The primary neural contribution to heart rate variability is through the vagus.) Vagal tone, represented by the statistic (')V (Porges, McCabe, and Yongue, 1982), was assessed by evaluating the rhythmic increases and decreases in heart rate which covary with respiration.
  • The results demonstrated a strong relationship between visual recognition memory and baseline (')V. The correlation between the total time looking at the novel stimulus and (')V was .81 (p < .001). The percent of novel looking was correlated with (')V (r = .61, p < .01).
  • Significant negative correlations were found between the duration of the familiarization period and: (1) (')V (r = -.62, p < .01); (2) the total time looking at the novel stimulus (r = -.50, p < .05). Infants who needed the shortest familiarization periods to accumulate five seconds of study time also had the highest (')V scores and the longest durations of looking at the novel stimulus.
  • Repeated-measures analyses of variance were calculated to determine differences between groups during the recognition memory problem. Analyses were performed for groups defined by visual recognition memory performance and baseline (')V. A significant heart rate deceleration in the response to the stimulus was shown by both the high visual recognition memory group (F(2, 24) = 6.19, p < .01) and the high (')V group (F(2, 24) = 4.40, p < .05).
  • Overall, the results showed a strong relationship between a behavioral response reflecting cognitive processes and heart rate variability, indicative of the integrity of the central nervous system.
Graduation Semester
1984
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/68892

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