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Describes an apparatus used in courses for medical students which demonstrates psychophysiological phenomena by showing changes in skin resistance or conductance. (RM)

Failure is frequently the end point of laboratory exercises in physiological psychology that involve stereotaxic surgery by inexperienced students. Lab instructors should caution students to pursue the potential location of misplaced brain lesions using a variety of simple behavioral tests and the Thompson stereotaxic atlas. (Author/RM)

Describes a one semester-hour self-paced laboratory section accompanying a physiological psychology course. Points out five disadvantages and three advantages, including more time and advance planning needed, active involvement of students, and increased learning and retention. (CK)

Instructions concerning how to teach neuron anatomy and physiology via a one-half hour dramatic presentation involving 30 student volunteers are provided. Data are provided to support the demonstration's value as both a pragmatic aid to comprehension and as an entertaining educational technique. (RM)

Although many individuals use alcohol to cope with stress (their behavior being based on the belief that alcohol can produce a relaxation effect), research has reported conflicting results on the effects of alcohol on tension reduction. A study was conducted to examine the psychophysiological effects of moderate levels of alcohol consumption under…

Described is an exercise involving the measurement of temperature in a peripheral tissue, brown adipose, that is readily accessible in the laboratory rat. (RM)

The continuing erosion of financial support for undergraduate laboratories makes cost an increasingly important factor in the choice of undergraduate animal experiments. Projects employing insect predation by rodents, which require minimal equipment and pose a number of interesting questions about animal behavior, are described. (RM)

Reviews the established effects of light on the human organism and concludes that sunlight simulating environmental lighting in schools will result in greater student and teacher comfort, health, and increased performance and/or working capacity. (Author/MLF)

Responds to an article (1992) in which Cross and Saxe assert that polygraph testing is inaccurate and inappropriate in the area of child sexual abuse. Presents a summary of recent polygraph validity and reliability studies to refute their claims, and discusses current uses of polygraph testing in child sexual abuse cases. (JPS)

Describes an interdisciplinary course providing basic background in behavior, pharmacology, neuroanatomy, neurotransmitters, drugs, and specific brain disorders. Provides rationale, goals, and operational details. Discusses a research project as a tool to improve critical evaluation of science reporting and writing skills. (JM)

A classroom game, based on a trivia-type game format, to help students prepare for the cumulative final exam in a physiological psychology course is presented. Details of game construction and play are described. (Author)

Measured arousal and motor responses as a function of conflict type and field structure. Using paper-and-pencil fields, subjects performed under four conflict conditions and a control condition. Arousal increased significantly with increasing conflict complexity and was habitual over repeated trials, though arousal did not differentiate field…

Assessed the relative efficacy of EMG biofeedback training to reduce tension levels in students (N=55) characterized by the presence or absence of coronary-prone behavior pattern (Type A or Type B). Results showed biofeedback students attained and maintained greater relaxation during training than did controls, regardless of A/B status. (WAS)