The Psychophysiology of Thinking

Studies of Covert Processes

1st Edition - January 1, 1973
Editor: F Mcguigan
Language: English
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 1 4 7 0 0 - 2

The Psychophysiology of Thinking: Studies of Covert Processes describes the relation between brain events and peripheral bodily phenomena in the context of psychological theory.… Read more

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The Psychophysiology of Thinking: Studies of Covert Processes describes the relation between brain events and peripheral bodily phenomena in the context of psychological theory. This book is organized into six parts encompassing 14 chapters, which focus on higher mental processes. This book starts with the historical development of electrical measures of covert processes. The subsequent chapters discuss the mechanism of conditioning of central nervous system, the skeletal musculature, and the autonomic activity. Other chapters explore the principles of hallucinations, sleep and dreaming, imagery, biofeedback, evoked potentials during thought, meaning, and thought with concomitant measures. The remaining chapters emphasize cerebral mechanisms, which principal concern is with the involvement of other bodily mechanisms in thought. Psychophysiologists, neurobiologists, behaviorists, and researchers in the fields of thinking and covert processes will find this book invaluable.

List of Contributors

Preface

Introduction

1. Electrophysiology of Mental Activities and Introduction to the Psychological Process of Thinking

The Discussion of Dr. Jacobson' s Paper

Open Discussion

References and Supporting Publications

Emphasis on Central Nervous System—Primaryil Electroencephalogmra

2. The Operant Conditioning of the Electrical Activity of the Brain as a Method for Controlling Neural and Mental Processes

I. Introduction

II. The Processes Controlled by Operant Neural Conditioning

III. Operant Neural Conditioning as a Method of Control

IV. Efficiency of Conditioning: Feedback and Constraints on Conditioning

V. Operant Neural Conditioning as a Method for Studying Functional Significance

VI . Conclusion

The Discussion of Dr. Black's Presentation

Open Discussion

References

3. Evoked Potentials of the Brain Related to Thinking

I. Experimental Design

II. Average Evoked Potential from One Subject

III. Analysis of Group Data

IV. CNV and AEP

V. AEP Changes with Learning

VI. Discussion

VII. Conclusions

References

The Discussion of Dr. Chapman's Paper

Open Discussion

References

4. Objective EEG Methods for Studying Covert Shifts of Visual Attention

I. Introduction

II. Neurophysiological Basis for Changes in the EEG Related to Visual Attention

Open Discussion

References

5. The Psychophysiology of Mental Activity during Sleep

I. Description of the Stages of Sleep

II. Relationship of Mental Activity to Sleep Stages

III. Temporal Correlates

IV. EEG Correlates

V. Motor Activity

VI. Cardiac and Respiratory Activity

VII. Electrodermal Activity

VIII. Penile Erections

IX. Temperature

X. Sympathetic Arousal

XI. Eye Movement Activity

XII. Phasic Events

XIII. Phasic Events and Other Physiological Variables

References

The Discussion of Dr. Rechtscharfen' s Paper

Open Discussion

References

Emphasis on Central Nervous System—Primarily Surgical Approachase

6. Lateral Specialization of Cerebral Function in the Surgically Separated Hemispheres

The Discussion of Dr. Sperry's Paper

Open Discussion

References

Emphasis on Peripheral Measures—Primarily Autonomic Behavior

7. The Role of Consciousness and Cognition in Autonomic Behavior Change

The Discussion of Dr. Grings's Paper

Open Discussion

References

8. Psychophysiological Correlates of Imagery

I. Theoretical Definition of Imagery

II. Electroencephalographic Studies

III. Eye Movements and Imagery

IV. Pupillary Reactions during Imagery Tasks

The Discussion of Dr. Paivio's Paper

Open Discussion

References

Emphasis on Peripheral Measures—Primarily Electromyogram

9. Hallucinations: An Experimental Approach

I. Hypnotically Induced Hallucinations

II. Conditioned Hallucinations

The Discussion of Dr. Hefferline's Paper

Open Discussion

References

10. Electrical Measurement of Covert Processes as an Explication of "Higher Mental Events"

I. On the Genesis of the Problem of "Mind," and of a Natural Science

Approach to "Mental Processes"

II. Development of Experimental Techniques

III. Language Stimuli as an Indicator of Thinking

IV. Internal Information Processing

V. Measurement of Covert Oral Behavior

VI. Summary

VII. Systematic Changes in the Amplitude of Covert Oral Behavior

VIII. Summary and Preliminary Interpretation

IX. Study of Patterns of Covert Processes

X. Mediational Processes

XI. Concluding Statement

The Discussion of Dr. McGuigan's Paper

Open Discussion

References

11. Biofeedback Techniques and the Conditions for Hallucinatory Activity

I. Inferences about Consciousnes

II. Between Sleep and Wakefulness

III. On the Conditions for Hallucinatory Activity

IV. Summary of Argument

The Discussion of Dr. Stoyva's Paper

Open Discussion

References

Integrative Approaches

12. Central Processes Controlling Speech Production during Sleep and Waking

I. Lashley's Views on Serial Order in Behavior

II. Phoneme-Based Models of Speech Production

III. The "Motor Command" Hypothesis

IV. The "Target" Hypothesis

V. The Role of Sensory Feedback

VI. The Multiplicity of Functional Units

VII. The Implications of Speech Errors

VIII. An Hierarchical Schema for Speech Production

IX. A Contemporary Associative Chain Model

X. Speech Production during Sleep

XI. Subvocal Activity during Sleep

XII. Physiological Correlates of Sleep Talking

XIII. Language Behavior during Sleep: Further Questions

XIV. The Verbal Component of Dream Content

XV. Speech Errors in Sleep-Talking Episodes

The Discussion of Dr. MacNeilage's Paper

Open Discussion

References

13. Psychophysiological Correlates of Meaning: Essences or Tracers?

I. Two-Stage (Representational) Neobehaviorism

II. Universals of Affective Meaning

III. Three-Stage (Integrational) Neobehaviorism

IV. Central Versus Peripheral Facilitation of Perception

V. On the Nature and Nurture of Tracers of M

The Discussion of Dr. Osgood's Paper

Open Discussion

References

14. Final Open Discussion

Author Index

Subject Index