Quantification of Psychophysiological Measures

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Abstract
Electroencephalographic and photopolygraphic recordings were obtained on 25 well-adjusted and 20 emotionally maladjusted children for a 15-minute period during which words, arithmetical problems and sensory stimuli were presented. The following physiological measures were used: dominant alpha wave frequency, per cent change of intensity of brain potentials during and after stimulation, deviation of alpha wave frequency from second to second, log conductance change, speed of respiration, regularity of respiration, and pulse rate. The scores of the emotionally maladjusted children were compared with those of the normal children by the use of standard scores. This method made it possible to obtain composite scores of physiological reactivity. Additional validity of the physiological patterns was demonstrated by the intercorrelations of the various measures. In general it was found that the neurotic child was much more unstable physiologically than the normal, and that the psychotic child was more stable than the normal.