Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List Research Articles

Relationships Between Arousal‐Related Moods and Episodic Tension‐Type Headache: A Biopsychological Study

An exploratory study was conducted examining arousal-related moods and episodic tension-type headache. Twelve subjects meeting International Headache Society criteria for episodic tension-type headache and 12 headache-free controls recorded headache activity and mood eight times daily for 14 consecutive days. Moods were measured using the Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List, a self-report list that subjectively represents general arousal along two dimensions of Tension and Energy. Headache subjects had higher Tension levels than controls even in the absence of pain, and greater variation in this dimension as well. Within the headache group, Tension during pain-free periods was significantly lower than when experiencing headache, and was correlated with headache activity. The results were taken to support Thayer's (1989) biopsychological model of mood and arousal, and are discussed in terms of the model's heuristic value for general arousal and headache research.

Does Aerobic Exercise Decrease Brain Activation?

In the present study, participants were randomly assigned to an exercise or a nonexercise group to measure brain activation (spontaneous EEG activity), affect, and cognitive functioning before and after a 15-min treatment period. Exercisers (a) sat quietly for 5 min, (b) exercised for 15 min, (c) recovered for 5 min, and (d) completed a 15-min vigilance task. Nonexercisers did not exercise. There was a significant (a) Condition × Band × Time interaction for EEG activity, (b) Condition × Time interaction for Activation-Deactivation Adjective Checklist (AD ACL) scores, and (c) Condition × Time interaction for reaction times (RTs). Post hoc tests showed (a) no significant group effects at the baseline and 15-min vigilance periods, and (b) significant group effects at the postexercise and 5-min vigilance periods. Exercisers had lower levels of brain activation (i.e., more theta and alpha activity and less beta activity), higher AD ACL scores, and slower RTs than nonexercisers during these periods.

Extraversion and the effect of exercise on spinal motoneuronal excitability

The effect of exercise on perceived arousal, as measured by the Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List (Thayer, Psychological Reports, 42, 747–756, 1978) and on spinal motoneuronal excitability, as measured by H-reflex recovery functions, was examined for introvert and extravert groups. Exercise increased General Activation scores, with extraverts reporting greater increases in energetic arousal than introverts. Significant group differences in H-reflex recovery were limited to longer inter-pulse intervals where introverts exhibited greater motoneuronal recovery than extraverts during the pre-exercise period. Exercise diminished these differences by increasing excitability in extraverts. These results are consistent with the notion that increased dopaminergic activity contributes to processes underlying extraversion and suggest that the measurement of spinal motoneuronal excitability via H-reflex recordings may be useful in assessing these interactions.

Effects of stroking horses on both humans' and horses' heart rate responses1

Abstract: The present study examined both human and horse heart rates (HRs) when humans stroked horses for 90 seconds; the subjective arousal levels of the humans were measured by the Tohoku Activation Deactivation Adjective Check List before and after stroking horses. Six male subjects with a positive attitude toward companion animals and 6 male subjects with a negative attitude were selected by their scores on the Pet Attitude Scale, and these two groups, together with a third group, of 6 subjects who were male members of the Doshisha University horse‐riding club, participated in this experiment. The HRs of the human subjects during the first 10 seconds immediately after the stroking began were significantly higher than those obtained after that period, but these higher levels gradually returned to baseline levels. This tendency appears more clearly in the negative attitude group. The HRs of the horses increased during the first 20 seconds immediately after the human subjects of the NA group started stroking them, but gradually reduced as the stroking continued. The results of subjective arousal levels suggest a decrease in tension by stroking horses. These results suggest that a certain affectional interaction may exist between humans and companion animals.

Patterns of cognitive asymmetry and syndromes of schizotypal personality

The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire, modeled on the nine components of DSM-III-R schizotypy, was administered to 122 medical students along with the Thayer Activation-Deactivation Adjective Checklist and the Warrington Recognition Memory Test for words and faces. Close affinities were found between a three-factor schizotypal personality structure and a three-syndrome model of schizophrenia. Different patterns of cognitive asymmetry (word-face discrepancy scores) were related to Active and Withdrawn syndromes as in schizophrenia, and were related to high activation and general deactivation differences as predicted. A prospective single case study showed that a face-word discrepancy before a first episode of schizophrenia accurately predicted a Withdrawn presenting syndrome. The consistency between syndromes of schizophrenia and schizotypal personality in a normal population suggests possible etiological links between the two, and it supports a dimensional view of psychosis and subclinical predispositions.

Measuring the poles of negative and positive mood using the Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule and Activation Deactivation Adjective Check List.

The Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) has become one of the most widely used measures of mood. It was developed from research using responses to adjective checklists as empirical evidence for the two independent, bipolar factor model of mood. However, when scores on the PANAS were factor analyzed with those from another mood checklist, Thayer's Activation Deactivation Adjective Check List, the PANAS represented only half of the model proposed by Watson and Tellegen (1985) by not containing adjectives representing the lower poles of positive and negative affect.

Individual Differences in Monitoring Failures of Automation

Abstract Subjects included 24 non-pilots who performed simulated flight-related tasks of tracking, fuel-management, and system monitoring. Tracking and fuel management were performed manually, whereas system monitoring was automated. Subjects were required to detect system malfunctions not detected by the automation (automation failures). The reliability of the automation remained constant or varied over time. Subjects detected significantly fewer automation failures in the constant-reliability automation condition than in the variable-reliability condition. Inefficiency in monitoring for automation failure was examined in relation to three individual-difference measures: the Complacency Potential Rating Scale, the Eysenck Personality Inventory (introversion-extraversion), and a modified version of Thayer's Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List (energetic arousal). These measures were not significantly intercorrelated, suggesting their relative independence. For subjects with high-complacency-poten...

Self-rated arousal concurrent with the antidepressant response to total sleep deprivation of patients with a major depressive disorder: a disinhibition hypothesis.

In view of the opposing theories regarding the arousing or de-arousing action of total sleep deprivation (TSD) in producing antidepressant effects, 23 patients with a major depressive disorder were deprived of a night's sleep twice weekly for two weeks, and self-rated their condition 38 times using von Zerssen's scale for depression and, concurrently, Thayer's Activation Deactivation Adjective Check List (AD ACL). Transient relief of depression after TSD, indicated by eight patients, was mimicked by their AD ACL scores, which revealed the same underlying factors as were found in Thayer's studies. TSD appears to be simultaneously arousing (giving more energy) and de-arousing (leading to less tension), while this response takes place against a background of increased tiredness/sleepiness. It is argued that TSD sets off a psychological disinhibition process on the basis of cerebral fatigue; in particular the prefrontal (orbital?) areas of the cerebral cortex may be implicated, possibly in relation to a dampening down of subcortical arousal systems.

Effects of Alcohol and White Noise on Recall of Relevant and Irrelevant Task Components

This study examined the effects of arousal, induced by alcohol and white noise, on the free recall of intentionally learned words and incidentally learned word-locations, in the presence or absence of word-order cues. The Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List, a self-report measure of arousal showed that noise affected the tension dimension of arousal, whereas the moderate alcohol dose primarily affected the energy dimension of arousal. That the low dose exerted an arousing effect was evidenced by an increase in tension but only when combined with noise. When word-order was randomized over trials, noise improved word-recall and counteracted the deleterious effect of the moderate alcohol dose. When order remained fixed, however, the moderate dose impaired recall, and at that dose recall was worse under noise. Location-recall was impaired by the moderate dose, and it was superior when word-order remained fixed. It was concluded that recall was influenced by arousal mechanisms and that perceived task demand and consequent effort were possible factors contributing to the obtained effects.

The Thayer Scale Response Patterns of Type a and Type b College Students

Using Thayer's Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List, the activation patterns of 95 Type A and 105 Type B college students were measured. The pattern of the group means suggests that Type A students are higher than Type B students on both energy and tension activation. When the responses of individuals were examined, the Type A students were 2.5 times more likely to exhibit this high activation pattern than was the case for the Type B students.

エステティックフェーシャルマッサージの心理生理学的研究 リラクゼーション効果の検証

The psychophysiological mechanism underlying the efficacy of esthetic facial massage was investigated in two related experiments using subjective, behavioral, and physiological indexes.In the first experiment, 24 healthy female volunteers ranging in age from 19-21 were assigned to an esthetic massage group (ES) or to a control group (CON) in a mixed design. Each subject was evaluated three times over an interval of several days.Subjects in Es showed significant changes (p<0.05) on the subjective index n terms of reduced tension and increased comfortableness, as assessed on the TAD-ACL (Tohoku Activation-Deactivation Adjective Checklist). Significant sympathetic system changes (p<0.05) were also observed on the physiological index with a slowing of heart beat after facial massage in the third session.In the second experiment, 24 naive subjects ranging in age from 19-21 were assigned to 3 equal groups: Es, an autogenic training group (AUT), and CON. Each subject was evaluated 3 times over an interval of several days. Prior to the experiment, subjects were habituated in a single training session. When ES was compared with AUT (Autogenic training is a wellknown relaxation method), significant differences (p<0.05) similar to those in the first experiment were observed on the subjective index in terms of reduced tension and increased comfortableness. The physiological index showed changes in EEG which resembled the stage of suppressed waves seen in the early stage of drowsiness in ES, and which decreased in coherence. These results indicate that esthetic facial massage produces a unique deactivation effect.These two experiments evaluated the psychophysiological efficacy of esthetic facial massage. Facial massage was shown to reduce arousal level in both the autonomic and central nervous systems and to produce a relaxed mental state which subjects described as “comfortableness”.

Circadian Rhythms of Body Temperature and Activation and The Well-Being of Older Women

The circadian parameters of body temperature and activation were studied in relationship to the well-being of 18 healthy women, aged 65-80 years. The women took oral temperature readings with an IVAC 2000 electronic thermometer and completed 1 of 12 alternate forms of the Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List every 2 hours during waking hours for 7 consecutive days (2 subjects followed this procedure for 3 midweek days in 2 consecutive weeks). Approximately 2 hours before going to bed, all subjects completed the General Well-Being Questionnaire that was modified for this study to measure daily fluctuations in well-being. Hypotheses were examined using cosinor analysis and Pearson correlations. Temperature and activation were demonstrated to manifest circadian periodicities. There were no correlations between the parameters of these rhythms and the well-being of the subjects.

Physical Fitness Levels and Psychological States versus Traits

10 men and 12 women joggers who had recently completed assessment of their aerobic capacity, were given the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire, the Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List, and Scales K, 2, 7, 9, and 9–2 (Psychomotor acceleration) from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Multiple regression equations were constructed separately for each sex to determine the effect of statistical control of psychological states on the correlations between aerobic capacity and personality traits. The correlations between aerobic capacity and Factor B (Intelligence) for men and Factor C (Emotionality) for women, were substantially reduced when state variables were controlled, while correlations between aerobic capacity and Factors M (Imagination) for men and Q1 (Experimenting) for women were substantially enhanced by controlling for state variables. The results were interpreted as support for study of state variables as mediating factors in the relationship between physical fitness and personality. Replication with larger samples is necessary.

Task Complexity and Subjective Arousal

Responses on the Activation–Deactivation Adjective Check List were recorded for forty–eight subjects who were performing a visual perceptual information processing task at one of three levels of task difficulty. In general, significant task performance differences in the expected direction were recorded. Two of the activation measures were found to differentiate between low and high task difficulty groups, while the scores for the medium group fell between these two-but did not significantly differ from either. Gender differences for both performance and activation measures were largely not significant.

Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List: Current Overview and Structural Analysis

The Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List (AD ACL) is a multidimensional self-rating test constructed and extensively validated for rapid assessments of momentary activation or arousal states. The two core dimensions, energetic arousal (including tiredness) and tense arousal (including calmness) have been replicated repeatedly. They bear a complex relationship to each other involving positive and negative correlations at different levels of intensity. The dimensions are associated with a variety of arousal-related characteristics, including physiological changes, sleep-wake cycles, exercise effects, cognitive and information processing functions, various mood states, and a number of concomitants of stress. Finally, in a reported empirical study designed to investigate the somewhat uncommon self-rating format of this check list, alternative rating scales were employed with the same adjective descriptors. Factor analyses of respondents' ratings indicated that the factor structure of activation descriptors remained essentially the same with each scale. In this context, the importance of the underlying arousal model in relation to the activation descriptors is discussed.

Diurnal Variation in Subjective and Objective Measures of Sleepiness: the Effects of Sleep Reduction and Circadian Type

In young, good sleepers the diurnal evolution of alertness was studied as a function of degree of morningness: (1) during habitual sleep routine and (2) in a 2-hr sleep reduction protocol. During habitual sleep routine, alertness was assessed using both the subjective evaluation based on Thayer's Activation Deactivation Adjective Checklist (43 subjects) and the objective measurement of sleep latency (Multiple Sleep Latency Test, MSLT). Self-alertness scored highest around midday. Later it showed a dip, then stayed on a plateau until about 2200 hr. On average, 77% of the subjects fell asleep at the 1400 hr MSLT session while only 35.5% did at 1000 hr and 25.8% at 2000 hr. Morning-types (MT) and evening-types (ET) differed only during the morning: ET fell asleep more frequently at 1000 hr and 1200 hr and rated lower self-alertness on arising than did MT. Twelve subjects were given the protocol of a 2-hr sleep reduction (both in delayed bedtime and advanced rising time conditions). At 0700 hr, MT rated their alertness lower when they had only just gotten up (delayed bedtime condition) than when they had been awake for 2 hr (advanced rising time condition). In contrast, ET had the same low level of alertness at 0800 hr, independent of the time elapsed since arising. On average the advanced rising time condition affected the general pattern of alertness more than did delayed bedtime.

Changes in Moods and Activation Levels During the Menstrual Cycle in Experimentally Naive Subjects

Two experiments providing additional validity data on the Profile of Mood States and the Thayer Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List were performed. In the third and main experiment, seven normally menstruating women filled out both questionnaires at the same time every day for 90 days. They were not aware that they were participating in a study of menstruation. Analysis of the time series records of individual women revealed relatively few significant fluctuations in moods and activation levels. Analysis of the group data showed that Fatigue, Confusion, Deactivation/Sleep, and Depression/Dejection were significantly lower in the premenstrual phase than in the periovulatory phase of the cycle, while General Activation was higher. Anger/Hostility and Confusion were both lower in the menstrual phase than in the periovulatory phase. On a retrospective menstrual distress questionnaire, these same subjects say that they experience increases in anxiety, irritability, depression, and tension in the premenstrual phase of the cycle. The differences between individual and group data and the apparent discrepancy between daily self-reports and retrospective questionnaires are discussed.

Changes in Moods and Activation Levels During the Menstrual Cycle in Experimentally Naive Subjects

Two experiments providing additional validity data on the Profile of Mood States and the Thayer Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List were performed. In the third and main experiment, seven ...

Factor analytic and reliability studies on the Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List.

Two factor analytic studies were conducted on a revised long form and a short form of the Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List, a self-report test of transitory activation or arousal states. Although previous research indicated that the check list is composed of four independent activation factors, the present research instead suggests two general bipolar activation dimensions. However, certain evidence indicates that the concept of four separate activation factors cannot be completely abandoned. A third study showed high measurement reliability on two kinds of estimates.

Effects of afternoon naps on physiological variables performance and self-reported activation

Fluctuations in physiological variables resulting from naps and the relationship of these to previously studied changes in performance and subjective activation associated with napping were examined. The subjects were eighteen healthy male university students who habitually slept 1 2 −2 hr in the afternoon. Measurements were obtained of four physiological variables, from a continuous 10-min auditory reaction time task and two factors of an Activation Deactivation Adjective Checklist 20 min before and after a control condition and two electroencephalographically recorded afternoons of sleep. The experimental conditions comprised a 2-hr period of wakefulness, a 1 2 hr nap from 4.35–5.05 p.m., and a 2-hr nap from 3.05–5.05 p.m. Following each sleep treatment, when compared with the control condition, there were statistically significant shifts of improved reaction time performance, and elevated activation as reflected by the two self-report scales, increased EEG frequency, heart rate, and electrodermal responses. The shifts of increased behavioral efficiency, subjective and physiological activation were approximately equivalent in extent between 2-hr and 1 2 - hr naps. These findings indicate that besides the previously reported facilitation by naps of performance and mood, physiological activation is increased following accustomed episodes of afternoon sleep.