The Effect of Electromagnetic Field Treatment on Recovery from Ischemic Stroke in a Rat Stroke Model: Clinical, Imaging, and Pathological Findings.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability. Effects of stroke include significant deficits in sensory-motor skills and cognitive abilities. At present, there are limited effective interventions for postacute stroke patients. In this preliminary research we studied a new noninvasive, very low intensity, low frequency, electromagnetic field treatment (VLIFE), targeting a neural network, on an in vivo stroke rat model. Eighteen rats were divided into three groups: sham (M1) and two treatment groups which were exposed to VLIFE treatment for 4 weeks, one using theta waves (M2) and another using beta waves (M3); all groups were followed up for an additional month. Results indicate that the M2 and M3 treated groups showed recovery of sensorimotor functional deficits, as demonstrated by Modified Neurological Severity Score and forelimb placement tests. Brain MRI imaging results show a decrease in perilesional edema and lateral ventricle widening in the treated groups. Fiber tracts' imaging, following VLIFE treatment, showed a higher white matter integrity compared to control. Histological findings support neural regeneration processes. Our data suggest that VLIFE treatment, targeting a specific functional neural network by frequency rather than location, promotes neuronal plasticity after stroke and, as a result, improves clinical recovery. Further studies will investigate the full potential of the treatment.

Role of suggestions in digital skin temperature: implications for temperature biofeedback research.

The purpose of the present experiment was to explore the role suggestions and assessment procedures play in affecting digital skin temperature. Four different types of suggestions were given subjects (warm, cool, pseudo (electronic terms), and no suggestions). Twenty-five subjects were randomly assigned to the four experimental conditions. The data were analyzed by three popular assessment procedures typically found in the literature. As predicted, subjects displayed significant decreases in skin temperature each day regardless of the training condition they were in. The assessment procedures produced differential results.

Skin temperature biofeedback: evaluation of positive and negative monetary incentives.

The purpose of the present experiment was to evaluate how training procedure and monetary incentive affect skin temperature biofeedback: A 3 (training procedure) X 3 (monetary incentive) design was employed. It was hypothesized that positive and negative monetary feedback would enhance temperature control. Motivation was manipulated by paying subjects 1 cent, 10 cents, or 20 cents for every 0.1 degree F they decreased their finger temperature over baseline for three days. Results revealed a significant monetary effect only during the first training day.

Voluntary control of skin temperature: role of experimenter presence versus absence.

The purpose of the present experiment was to determine whether the physical presence of an experimenter affects biofeedback performance according to social facilitation predictions. A 2(experimenter: presence vs. absence) X 2(task directionality: increase vs. decrease) design was employed. It was hypothesized that the presence of an experimenter would hinder the acquiring of skin temperature control in a biofeedback task. Fifty-three subjects were randomly assigned to the four experimental conditions. The results were compatible with social facilitation predictions, i.e., experimenter presence hindered performance.

Constraints on the Yerkes-Dodson law in skin temperature biofeedback.

The purpose of the present experiment was to explore the relationship between motivation and task difficulty during temperature biofeedback. A 2 (task difficulty: decreasing vs. increasing) X 3 (motivation: 0 vs. 25 vs. 50 payment) design was employed. It was hypothesized that a curvilinear function would be obtained in the decrease groups following the Yerkes-Dodson law. Sixty-five subjects were randomly assigned to the six experimental conditions and were trained to increase or decrease their finger temperature. Motivation was manipulated by paying subjects 0, 25, or 50 for every 0.1 degree F they increased their finger temperature over baseline for three days. As predicted, the results are quite compatible with the Yerkes-Dodson law on day one in the decrease conditions. However, as training continued the motivational variable no longer played a significant role in influencing performance, although the curvilinear function was still obtained graphically. It would appear that motivation can play a significant role in a subject's ability to control skin temperature.

Effects of suggestion on increasing or decreasing skin temperature control.

In a 2 x 3 factorial design, 44 college students were assigned the task of either increasing or decreasing their hand skin temperature, receiving either suggestions, pseudo-suggestions, or no suggestions (response-specific instructions only). Subjects receiving suggestions heard imagery phrases related to increasing or decreasing hand skin temperature; subjects in the pseudo-suggestion condition heard phrases related to electronics; subjects in the response-specific condition were told only to increase or decrease their skin temperature prior to training. All subjects participated in three training sessions. Analyses of the third session indicated a significant main effect for temperature direction and a significant interaction effect. A marginally significant main effect for suggestion was obtained. The results suggest that the ability of a subject to regulate hand skin temperature is influenced by the combination of required direction of change and type of suggestion. The data support the notion that pseudo-suggestions may act as a distractor which disrupts the ability of a subject to control hand skin temperature in both the increase and decrease directions.

Skin temperature regulation: the effects of suggestion and feedback.

This study focuses on the effects of visual digital feedback and verbal suggestions on an individual's ability to increase hand skin temperature. In this 2 x 2 factorial design, thirty-eight college students were assigned to conditions receiving feedback or no feedback and suggestions or no suggestions. Subjects receiving suggestions heard a tape recorded imagery phrase related to increasing hand temperature; subjects in the no-suggestion condition received neutral phrases of electronic definitions. All subjects participated in three training sessions. Analysis of the third session indicated an interaction effect; post hoc analysis indicated a significant difference between subjects receiving feedback with suggestion and subjects receiving feedback and no suggestion. The results suggest that the ability to increase skin temperature may require the concomitant use of feedback and suggestion.