Psychophysiological Research Research Articles

Specificity ratings for English data.

A dataset of specificity ratings for English words is hereby presented, analyzed and discussed in relation with other collections of speaker-generated ratings, including concreteness. Both, specificity and concreteness are analyzed in their ability to explain decision latencies in lexical and semantic tasks, showing important individual contributions. Specificity ratings are collected through best-worst scaling method on the words included in the ANEW dataset (Bradley and Lang in Affective norms for English words (ANEW): instruction manual and affective ratings (Tech. Rep.). Technical report C-1, the center for research in psychophysiology, 1999), chosen for its compatibility with many other collections of rating resources, and for its comparability with Italian specificity data (Bolognesi and Caselli in Behav Res Methods 55(7):3531-3548, 2023), allowing for cross-linguistic comparisons. Results suggest that specificity plays an important role in word processing and the importance of taking specificity into consideration when investigating concreteness effects.

Software tools for organizing cloud computing in psychophysiological research based on eyetracking data

The architecture and web version of the software complex have been developed, which significantly expands the diagnostic capabilities of model-oriented information technologies for the assessment of the neurophysiological state. The complex provides cross-platform cloud computing, increases the productivity and efficiency of scientific research, using methods of non-parametric identification of the oculomotor system based on eyetracking data, which is achieved thanks to a new concept of cloud computing organization. Cloud computing technology has been further developed thanks to the proposed concept that combines the principles of PaaS (Platform as a Service) and SaaS (Software as a Service). The key feature of this software complex is its undemanding hardware on the client side thanks to the use of cloud computing, and its modular structure, which allows it to be easily scaled. Compared to other similar services, the complex has several advantages: it provides effective work in research and educational areas, supports several programming languages for improving algorithms, and also allows the use of ready-made identification methods through specially developed GUI interfaces. In addition, it offers social capabilities and a high level of abstraction that optimizes the research process.

Theories and hypotheses: The forgotten plane of the multiverse

Multiverse analyses—the systematic examination of the effects of decisions that researchers can take over the course of a research project—became more common in recent psychophysiological research. However, multiverse analyses in psychophysiology almost exclusively focus on methodological and statistical decisions that can have a considerable impact on the findings. The role of the conceptual multiverse regarding theory-related research decisions is largely ignored. We argue that the choice of a theory that guides hypotheses, study design, measurement methods, and statistical analyses is the first plane of the psychophysiological multiverse. Depending on the chosen theoretical framework, researchers will choose different methods, and statistical analyses will emphasize specific aspects. We illustrate this process with a research example studying the effects of task difficulty manipulations on cardiovascular effects reflecting effort. We argue in favor of an approach that explicitly acknowledges the various theoretical accounts that can constitute the background of a study and demonstrate how a comparative analytical approach can provide a comprehensive multiverse without increasing type I error due to mere exploration.

The Real 'Hard Problem' of Consciousness: Where Do Thoughts Come From, if Not the Brain?

This article argues that contemporary debates of the 'hard problem' of consciousness (i.e.how does 'mindless' matter produce 'matterless' mind?) cannot be resolved through philosophical analysis alone and need to be anchored to a comprehensive empirical foundation that includes psychophysiological research of psychosomatic phenomena and exceptional human experience. First, alternative perspectives on the mind–matter question and reasons why traditional formulations of the 'hard problem' have been so difficult to resolve are reviewed. Empirical evidence of mind modulation of bodily systems and its implications for the classical quantitative–qualitative distinction and construct of causal closure are then considered. A novel theory that combines bottom-up (panpsychism) and top-down (non-theistic panenpsychism) approaches relating physical processes to mental activity is then proposed that has practical implications for conceiving and exploring alternatives to current ways of thinking about the mind–matter question.

Use of special technical means (polygraph) on personnel recruitment in corporate structures

The article studies some aspects of specialized polygraph device application in the process of personnel recruitment in corporate structures. The authors cite the sociological surveys results that reflect the attitude of employers and employees towards polygraph checks at the stage of their employment. The methods and spheres of polygraph application for professional-psychological selection have been analyzed. The special psychophysiological research procedure with the use of the polygraph has been described, including recommendations on the questions formulation to obtain reliable results. The legislation of the Russian Federation regulating the conduct of such research has also been considered. The authors concluded that the use of the polygraph device is a relevant and promising tool, which is increasingly used in the personnel recruitment in corporate structures, as evidenced by the sociological surveys results. However, the research peculiarity on the polygraph tests prospects in personnel recruitment is currently complicated by the lack of open data from the companies themselves, since such data constitute commercial secrets and are not subject to public disclosure in accordance with the Federal Law “On Trade Secrets”.

Publication guidelines for human heart rate and heart rate variability studies in psychophysiology-Part 1: Physiological underpinnings and foundations of measurement.

This Committee Report provides methodological, interpretive, and reporting guidance for researchers who use measures of heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) in psychophysiological research. We provide brief summaries of best practices in measuring HR and HRV via electrocardiographic and photoplethysmographic signals in laboratory, field (ambulatory), and brain-imaging contexts to address research questions incorporating measures of HR and HRV. The Report emphasizes evidence for the strengths and weaknesses of different recording and derivation methods for measures of HR and HRV. Along with this guidance, the Report reviews what is known about the origin of the heartbeat and its neural control, including factors that produce and influence HRV metrics. The Report concludes with checklists to guide authors in study design and analysis considerations, as well as guidance on the reporting of key methodological details and characteristics of the samples under study. It is expected that rigorous and transparent recording and reporting of HR and HRV measures will strengthen inferences across the many applications of these metrics in psychophysiology. The prior Committee Reports on HR and HRV are several decades old. Since their appearance, technologies for human cardiac and vascular monitoring in laboratory and daily life (i.e., ambulatory) contexts have greatly expanded. This Committee Report was prepared for the Society for Psychophysiological Research to provide updated methodological and interpretive guidance, as well as to summarize best practices for reporting HR and HRV studies in humans.

Вікові особливості трансформації психофізіологічних функцій операторів безпілотних авіаційних комплексів зі стресогенними захворюваннями органів травлення

The purpose of the study is to identify age-related changes in the psychophysiological parameters of operators of unmanned aircraft systems who have stress-associated diseases of the digestive organs. Research materials and methods. In the course of the conducted research, 58 operators of unmanned aircraft complexes aged from 21 to 50 years old who had stress-related diseases of the digestive organs were examined. The investigated operators were divided into 2 groups based on their age. The examination was carried out using blank questionnaires and modern modified methods implemented on the basis of the «PFI-2» software and hardware complex for psychophysiological research. The results. According to the research data, it was established that the probability of diseases of the digestive organs in operators ˂40 years old is 0.78, and in operators ≥40 years old – 0.22 (p=0.00001). Such a large probability gap can be explained by the fact that the young population is particularly prone to the occurrence and development of diseases of the digestive organs. The comparative analysis also demonstrated the fact that most of the psychophysiological parameters of operators with stress-related diseases worsen with age. Correlation analysis showed that according to speed psychophysiological parameters, there is an unreliable shift in the system of ensuring professional activity with age (p=0.53), аccording to the psychological functions, there is a tendency towards the transformation of changes (p=0.0653), and when studying the structure of cognitive characteristics, it weakens quite a lot (p=0.001). Conclusions. It is shown that most of the listed psychophysiological parameters in operators who have stress-associated diseases reliably worsen with age (p<0.05). It was found that the number of positive and negative correlations in the operators of unmanned aircraft systems aged ≥40 years old is significantly reduced between psychological and cognitive parameters. According to the number of negative correlations between both age groups of operators, their decrease was sufficient between psychological (p=0,014) and cognitive (p=0.05) parameters. That is, in operators who have stress-associated diseases of the digestive organs, the system of connections between individual psychological and cognitive functions weakens with age. A hypothesis was formulated: stress-associated diseases cause an increase in the life support system of the operator, but with age, this system gradually breaks down, unable to withstand the effects of stress loads.

THE IMPACT OF STRESS-ASSOCIATED DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS ON THE PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL STATE OF OPERATORS OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS

Introduction. In the conditions of martial law, an important role belongs to modern military equipment, which includes unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Оperators of UAS in the course of combat missions are significantly affected by the stress factor. It provokes the occurrence of stress-associated diseases in them, therefore, studying the specifics of the impact of stress-associated diseases on the psychophysiological state of operators determines the relevance of this study. The purpose of the study. To establish the patterns of influence of stress-associated diseases of the digestive organs on the psychophysiological state of the operators of unmanned aircraft systems. Materials and methods. In the course of the research, 94 operators of UAS under the age of 40 were examined, who were then divided into groups based on their health status. The examination was carried out using modern modified methods implemented on the basis of the software and hardware complex for psychophysiological research «PFI-2». The results. It has been proven that stress-associated diseases of the digestive organs significantly worsen (p<0,05) the psychophysiological state of operators of UAS in a sufficiently large number of professionally important psychophysiological qualities. The reliable influence of the «state of health» factor on the indicators of simple and complex visual-motor reaction of operators of UAS is shown. The analysis of correlation constellations according to cognitive parameters showed that 6 of them are observed in healthy operators, 2 in mildly ill patients, and 1 in severely ill patients, that is, the system of connections between cognitive functions breaks down quite strongly with the development of stress-associated diseases of the digestive organs. There is a natural decrease in the number of connections in the series «healthy (13) – mildly ill (10) – severely ill (5)». It is shown that the stress that causes the disease fundamentally destroys the system of ensuring professional activity. Conclusions. It was established that stress-associated diseases of the digestive organs negatively affect the psychophysiological state of operators. The degree of degradation of the structure of correlation relations (р=0,0491) as a result of the influence of the stress factor on the operators was revealed. A hypothesis regarding the destruction of the system of connections between cognitive psychophysiological parameters depending on the «severity of the disease» is proposed. The need to develop a set of measures to prevent the development of stress-related diseases among operators of UAS has been established.

Возможности применения технологии айтрекинга в деятельности правоохранительных органов (на примере зарубежных стран)

Introduction. The law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation widely use a polygraph in solving and investigating crimes as part of psychophysiological research. However, a number of foreign countries are actively conducting research on implementing new psychophysiological technologies in the practical activities of law enforcement officers. One of such technologies is the eye-tracker. The article describes the experience of applying the technology of eye-tracking in the professional activities of law enforcement officers for solving and investigating crimes, in particular, for assessing the reliability of the reported information, revealing hidden information, as well as identifying information about previously perceived persons and objects on the example of foreign countries. These provisions determine the purpose of our research - the generalisation and analysis of foreign experience of applying the technology of eye-tracking in the activities of law enforcement agencies. Methods. General scientific research methods such as analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction and description were used in the research. Results. The current state of theoretical and methodological ideas about eye-tracking, as well as areas of its application, methodological and procedural features of its use in the activities of law enforcement agencies of foreign countries was determined.

Psychophysiological Research and its Place in the Lithuanian Scientific Discourse

This article gives a brief overview of the development of psycho-physiological research using the polygraph. The main focus is on the legal regulation of these methods and the evaluation of the scientific discourse of Lithuanian specialists on the problems of psychophysiological research and the application of its methods in comparison with analogous processes in Poland. Already in the inter-war period, so-called lie detection attracted considerable interest, not only from the academic world, but also from law enforcement authorities. In interwar Lithuania, considerable attention was paid to the psychology of testimony and the problems of lie detection, including the apeplication of instrumental methods of psychodiagnostics. V. Lazerson, J. Vabalas-Gudaitis, B. Kalvaitis and others have written about it. It should be noted that at that time there were quite heated debates about the permissibility and effectiveness of psychophysiological tests. During the Soviet era, the issue of psychophysiological (poly-graph) examinations was not the subject of an official broad scientific discourse in the jurisdictional process, even though medical and psychological professionals cooperating with special services were interested in this issue. After the restoration of independence in 1990, the Lithuanian media interest in this issue prompted the law enforcement authorities and their specialists and scientists to look deeper into the possibility, reliability, permissibility and effectiveness of the use of these technical diagnostic tools in foreign countries, as well as into their compatibility with the Lithuanian law in the investigation of crimes. In this article, some aspects of psychophysiological tests using the polygraph in Poland have been analysed for comparison purposes, which in the neighbouring country have attracted considerably more attention, both in the academic world as well as among lawyers and representatives of law enforcement agencies.

Взаимодействие следователя и специалиста по результатам исследования с применением полиграфа

One of the problematic issues of research using a polygraph is the importance of “polygraph results” for the investigation. The Supreme Court's denial of the evidentiary value of psychophysiological research forces investigators to seek ways to effectively apply the results obtained by a specialist in a study using a polygraph. In order to determine the preferences of investigators in the options for interaction between an investigator and a specialist based on the results of a polygraph study, a survey of forensic investigators undergoing advanced training at the Moscow Academy of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation was conducted. The results of the survey allow us to draw conclusions that investigators use “polygraph results” in preparation for interrogation, use them to exert legitimate psychological influence on the interrogated, in order to expose false testimony; They highly appreciate the expediency of promptly notifying the investigator about the preliminary results of the polygraph test, as well as the expediency of interrogating a specialist “polygraphologist” in order to explain to the investigator the “results of the polygraph” and give them a procedural status.

Your blush gives you away: detecting hidden mental states with remote photoplethysmography and thermal imaging.

Multimodal emotion recognition techniques are increasingly essential for assessing mental states. Image-based methods, however, tend to focus predominantly on overt visual cues and often overlook subtler mental state changes. Psychophysiological research has demonstrated that heart rate (HR) and skin temperature are effective in detecting autonomic nervous system (ANS) activities, thereby revealing these subtle changes. However, traditional HR tools are generally more costly and less portable, while skin temperature analysis usually necessitates extensive manual processing. Advances in remote photoplethysmography (r-PPG) and automatic thermal region of interest (ROI) detection algorithms have been developed to address these issues, yet their accuracy in practical applications remains limited. This study aims to bridge this gap by integrating r-PPG with thermal imaging to enhance prediction performance. Ninety participants completed a 20-min questionnaire to induce cognitive stress, followed by watching a film aimed at eliciting moral elevation. The results demonstrate that the combination of r-PPG and thermal imaging effectively detects emotional shifts. Using r-PPG alone, the prediction accuracy was 77% for cognitive stress and 61% for moral elevation, as determined by a support vector machine (SVM). Thermal imaging alone achieved 79% accuracy for cognitive stress and 78% for moral elevation, utilizing a random forest (RF) algorithm. An early fusion strategy of these modalities significantly improved accuracies, achieving 87% for cognitive stress and 83% for moral elevation using RF. Further analysis, which utilized statistical metrics and explainable machine learning methods including SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), highlighted key features and clarified the relationship between cardiac responses and facial temperature variations. Notably, it was observed that cardiovascular features derived from r-PPG models had a more pronounced influence in data fusion, despite thermal imaging's higher predictive accuracy in unimodal analysis.

Sampling rate requirement for accurate calculation of heart rate and its variability based on the electrocardiogram.

Objective. To develop analytical formulas which can serve as quantitative guidelines for the selection of the sampling rate for the electrocardiogram (ECG) required to calculate heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) with a desired level of accuracy.Approach. We developed analytical formulas which relate the ECG sampling rate to conservative bounds on HR and HRV errors: (i) one relating HR and sampling rate to a HR error bound and (ii) the others relating sampling rate to HRV error bounds (in terms of root-mean-square of successive differences (RMSSD) and standard deviation of normal sinus beats (SDNN)). We validated the formulas using experimental data collected from 58 young healthy volunteers which encompass a wide HR and HRV ranges through strenuous exercise.Main results. The results strongly supported the validity of the analytical formulas as well as their tightness. The formulas can be used to (i) predict an upper bound of inaccuracy in HR and HRV for a given sampling rate in conjunction with HR and HRV as well as to (ii) determine a sampling rate to achieve a desired accuracy requirement at a given HR or HRV (or its range).Significance. HR and its variability (HRV) derived from the ECG have been widely utilized in a wide range of research in physiology and psychophysiology. However, there is no established guideline for the selection of the sampling rate for the ECG required to calculate HR and HRV with a desired level of accuracy. Hence, the analytical formulas may guide in selecting sampling rates for the ECG tailored to various applications of HR and HRV.

Reduced reward responsiveness and depression vulnerability: Consideration of social contexts and implications for intervention.

Depression is a prevalent, heterogeneous, and debilitating disorder that often emerges in adolescence, and there is a need to better understand vulnerability processes to inform more targeted intervention efforts. Psychophysiological methods, like event-related potentials (ERPs), can offer unique insights into the cognitive and emotional processes underlying depression vulnerability. I review my and others' research examining ERP measures of reward responsiveness in youth depression and present a conceptual model of the development of low reward responsiveness, its role in depression vulnerability, and potential windows for targeted intervention. There is evidence that ablunted reward positivity (RewP) is observable in children at risk for depression, appears to be shaped in part by early social experiences, and predicts later depressive symptoms in combination with other risk factors like stress exposure. Further, a component consistent with RewP is reliably elicited in response to social acceptance feedback in computerized peer interaction tasks and demonstrates unique associations with social contextual factors and depressive symptoms, supporting the utility of developing psychophysiological tasks that may better capture youths' real-world experiences and social risk processes. In addition, I address the translational implications of clinical psychophysiological research and describe a series of studies showing that a reduced RewP predicts greater reductions in depressive symptoms with treatment but is not modifiable by current treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy. Finally, I describe our preliminary efforts to develop a positive emotion-focused intervention for the offspring of depressed mothers, informed by the RewP literature, and describe future directions for translating psychophysiological research to intervention and prevention.

Оценка эффективности влияния омега-3-полиненасыщенных жирных кислот на соматический и когнитивный статус здоровых детей

Aim. Assessing the effectiveness of the influence of omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the somatic and cognitive status of healthy children. Design. Observational prospective study. Materials and methods. The study included 90 healthy (without chronic diseases) children aged 3 to 17 years (mean age — 9.2 ± 6.8 years): 35 (38.8%) girls and 55 (62.2%) boys. All children received dietary supplements omega-3, in accordance with the instructions for use, for 1 month. During the study, 3 face-to-face visits to a pediatrician took place: screening (before starting the dietary supplement), at the end of the intake and 2 months after completion of the course of treatment. A comprehensive laboratory and instrumental examination (biochemical blood test), measurement of the omega-3 index, levels of omega-3-PUFA and omega-6-PUFA in “dry” drops of blood, ultrasound examinationof the abdominal organs, testing on a computer device for psychophysiological research KPFK-99M Psychomat. Results. All examined children initially had a deficiency of omega-3 PUFAs, while while taking dietary supplements, the main indicators reflecting the saturation of the body with omega-3 PUFAs (omega-3 index, levels of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids) increased, but the target values were achieved only in 4 of the observed children children. The reference concentrations of PUFA fractions were determined in children from 3 to 17 years old. When taking omega-3, the incidence of acute respiratory pathologies decreased and their course became milder. The positive effect of omega-3 on indicators of fine motor skills, verbal and visual perception, visual-spatial memory, attention span, as well as a slight decrease in anxiety with stabilization of the emotional background, which persisted in all age groups 2 months after completion of the course. The positive effect of dietary supplements on autonomic functions has been demonstrated: the process of falling asleep, sleep quality, appetite. Dynamic observation showed good tolerability and the absence of adverse reactions to taking omega-3, according to laboratory and instrumental studies, as assessed by doctors, patients and their parents. Conclusion. Taking omega-3 for 1 month (in addition to a healthy diet) is a safe, convenient way to support optimal immune and nervous system function, potentially reducing the risk and impact of infections in children 3–17 years of age. Keywords: omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 index, higher cognitive functions, cognitive status in children.

Psychophysiological components of the activities of operators of nuclear power plants as a factor of accidents in the conditions of the threat of social catastrophe

The purpose of the study is to establish the peculiarities of operator’s work and the leading factors of the formation of its psychophysiological tension at nuclear power plants in the conditions of the threat of social catastrophe in connection with military operations. The study was conducted at the Zaporizhzhya and Khmelnytsky nuclear power plants for the period of 2020-2021. To study the dynamics of the psychophysiological state of operators of nuclear power plants, a verbal-communicative diagnostic method was used to collect information about the operators investigated using Google Form and traditional physiological, psychological and psychophysiological methods. The socio-demographic features of the investigated operators of the block control panel were analyzed. It was established that men only (100%) aged 24-49 and with work experience from 4 to 20 years were among the examined. All surveyed operators (41 people) are residents of the city, with completed higher education and are family members. The methods of psychological (reactive anxiety, mood, activity, mood, attention), physiological (cardiography, blood pressure) and psychophysiological (simple sensorimotor and psychophysical) research methods were used to empirically assess the intensity of activity of the operators of the block control panel of nuclear power plants. There were examined operators, while on duty when control errors and pre-accident situations were recorded. It was established that the psychological, physiological and psychophysiological characteristics of these operators are followed by increased reactive anxiety, decreased indicators of well-being, activity, mood, reduction in functional reserves of the cardiorespiratory system, mental and physical capacity. These indicators are considered as criteria for the development of regulatory measures. It is proposed to take into account not only technological factors, but also the psychophysiological features of operators in the dynamics of their manifestation when developing measures for the optimal selection and personnel placement. The complex of methods for researching the functional state of operators can be used to optimize their professional selection and retraining, which can lead to reducing accidents and costs for professional training. The expected effect is an increase in the efficiency and quality of operator’s activity, the productivity and reliability of the performance of production tasks, an increase in professional longevity, a decrease in rate and occupationally-related morbidity of these specialists.

Compassionomics: The Science and Practice of Caring

PurposeTo summarize the scientific evidence that compassion can measurably improve patient outcomes, healthcare quality and safety, and the well-being of healthcare providers, and to consider specific strategies for cultivating compassion and better communicating it to patients. DesignPerspective MethodsWe selectively review the literature on compassion in health care, including obstacles to its expression and the demonstrated effects of provider compassion on patient outcomes, healthcare quality and cost, and provider well-being. We also review evidence regarding the trainability of compassion, discuss proven methods for cultivating individual compassion, and recommend strategies for incorporating it into routine medical practice. ResultsCompassion is the emotional response to another's pain or suffering, accompanied by a desire to alleviate it. Review of the literature shows that compassionate health care measurably improves physical and psychological patient outcomes, increases patient adherence, improves healthcare quality and safety, increases financial margins, and prevents physician burnout. Psychophysiological research demonstrates that empathy and compassion can be actively cultivated through intentional practice. Validated models of compassion-based interactions can facilitate the consistent expression of compassion in daily medical practice. ConclusionsGiven its many proven benefits to patients, healthcare organizations, and providers, compassion should be cultivated by healthcare providers and systems, and considered an essential component of optimal medical care.

Application of facial neuromuscular electrical stimulation (fNMES) in psychophysiological research: Practical recommendations based on a systematic review of the literature

Facial neuromuscular electrical stimulation (fNMES), which allows for the non-invasive and physiologically sound activation of facial muscles, has great potential for investigating fundamental questions in psychology and neuroscience, such as the role of proprioceptive facial feedback in emotion induction and emotion recognition, and may serve for clinical applications, such as alleviating symptoms of depression. However, despite illustrious origins in the 19th-century work of Duchenne de Boulogne, the practical application of fNMES remains largely unknown to today’s researchers in psychology. In addition, published studies vary dramatically in the stimulation parameters used, such as stimulation frequency, amplitude, duration, and electrode size, and in the way they reported them. Because fNMES parameters impact the comfort and safety of volunteers, as well as its physiological (and psychological) effects, it is of paramount importance to establish recommendations of good practice and to ensure studies can be better compared and integrated. Here, we provide an introduction to fNMES, systematically review the existing literature focusing on the stimulation parameters used, and offer recommendations on how to safely and reliably deliver fNMES and on how to report the fNMES parameters to allow better cross-study comparison. In addition, we provide a free webpage, to easily visualise fNMES parameters and verify their safety based on current density. As an example of a potential application, we focus on the use of fNMES for the investigation of the facial feedback hypothesis.

Using the Research Domain Criteria as a framework to integrate psychophysiological findings into stress management and psychotherapy interventions.

Research on the psychophysiology of stress is expanding rapidly, but the field lacks a clear integrative framework to help translate research findings into empirically supported stress interventions. The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) is an excellent candidate to explore as a framework to integrate stress research. The RDoC framework is a dimensional, multi-modal approach to psychopathology proposed as an alternative to categorical approaches used by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). The goal of this paper is to explore the RDoC as a framework to integrate psychophysiology research into therapeutic interventions for stress. The RDoC consists of six domains: negative valence systems, positive valence systems, cognitive systems, social processes systems, arousal/regulatory systems, and sensorimotor systems, and provides an excellent structure for integrating information from multiple levels of functioning including physiology, behavior, and self-report, as well as genes, molecules, cells, and brain circuits. Integrating psychophysiological research on stress using the RDoC framework can direct and amplify stress management and psychotherapeutic interventions. First, the RDoC provides a clear foundation for conceptualizing the stress response in terms of important concepts such as allostasis and adaptation. In this perspective, the terms "allostatic response" or "adaptation response" are more descriptive terms than "stress response" in understanding bodily responses to life threats and challenges. Second, psychophysiological approaches can be used in the context of modalities such as biofeedback and mindfulness to both collect psychophysiological data and then integrate that data into a broader therapeutic framework. Heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback is being used more frequently as part of a therapeutic intervention package with stress management and psychotherapy, and HRV data is also used to provide outcome evidence on the efficacy of treatment. Mindfulness practices are commonly used in combination with stress management and psychotherapy, and psychophysiological data (HRV, EEG, blood pressure, etc.) is often collected to explore and understand mind/body relationships. In conclusion, the lack of a clear framework to assess and understand mind/body functioning limits current stress research and interventions. The RDoC provides a strong framework to assess and integrate physiological and psychological data and improve stress interventions.

Alpha-band oscillations and emotion: A review of studies on picture perception.

Although alpha-band activity has long been a focus of psychophysiological research, its modulation by emotional value during picture perception has only recently been studied systematically. Here, we review these studies and report that the most consistent alpha oscillatory pattern indexing emotional processing is an enhanced desynchronization (ERD) over posterior sensors when viewing emotional compared with neutral pictures. This enhanced alpha ERD is not specific to unpleasant picture content, as previously proposed for other measures of affective response, but has also been observed for pleasant stimuli. Evidence suggests that this effect involves a desynchronization of the upper alpha band and of the lower beta frequencies (10-20 Hz). The emotional modulation of alpha ERD occurs even after massive stimulus repetition and when emotional cues serve as task-irrelevant distractors, consistent with the hypothesis that evaluative processes are mandatory in emotional picture processing. A similar enhanced ERD has been observed for other significant cues (e.g., conditioned aversive stimuli, or in anticipation of a potential threat), suggesting that it reflects cortical excitability associated with the engagement of the motivational systems.