RU2806482C2 - Method of assessing severity of psychoemotional response - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine; psychology.

SUBSTANCE: invention can be used to assess psycho-emotional response. Preliminary training of the individual ability to reproduce a given reference time interval of 3 s, demonstrated on a stopwatch is performed. Demonstration of verbal information selected from the data bank is performed in the form of either verbal stimuli or images of neutral and stressful content. After demonstrating each stimulus, the person begins counting a subjective time interval of 3 s, which is accompanied by pressing a button and recording the subjective time. Next, the average values of reproduction of subjective time for each stimulus are calculated. Statistical criteria of the significance of differences in the recorded reproducible intervals of subjective time at the moment of presentation of neutral and emotionally significant information are determined. If there is a statistically significant difference in the reproduction of subjective time for the presentation of neutral and emotionally significant stimuli, it is concluded that the person has psycho-emotional involvement in the problem being studied.

EFFECT: method provides a highly effective assessment of psycho-emotional response by assessing the ratio of predetermined reproducible reference time intervals when presenting various emotionally significant and insignificant information.

1 cl, 3 dwg, 6 ex

Description

The invention relates to the field of psychology and can be used as a means of assessing the presence of psycho-emotional involvement in any problem, as well as as a means of identifying emotional comfort for choice in a decision-making situation.

There is a known method for express diagnostics of suicidal risk using the SIGNAL method, which consists of alternating presentation of verbal information in the form of sentences of neutral and suicidal content, periodically containing errors, with fixation of attention on the search for errors and assessment of the ratio of reaction time to the presented sound signal at the time of presentation of sentences of neutral and suicidal content (http://www.zhg-zresurs.ru/docs/socio/sopr/metods/sem_suicid_poved/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B8 %D0%BA%D0%B0%20%D0%A1%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB.pdf).

There is a known method for assessing emotional stability (RF patent 2240038), which consists of presenting a series of words (interference) with neutral and stress-related content in headphones against the background of the subject’s reproduction of the presented text with neutral content and determining the latent time of the sensorimotor reaction to an additionally presented visual stimulus (this method was chosen as a prototype ).

The authors of the SIGNAL method claim that under the conditions of the subject’s activity (searching for errors in sentences of different semantic content, for example, suicidal and neutral), the time of a simple sensorimotor reaction to a sound signal is a reliable indicator of the degree of fixation of attention, figuratively speaking: “attention sticking,” to the processed material . On the basis of which it is concluded that there is a suicidal risk when the reaction time to a signal increases when reading suicidal sentences compared to the reaction time when reading neutral sentences.

The disadvantages of these methods are the facts that the time of a simple sensorimotor reaction itself is a rather variable indicator, and therefore it is difficult to distinguish the influence of variability from the effect of “attention sticking” on the estimated reaction time and in practice this technique turned out to be not entirely informative. This is also manifested in the absence of stable indicators of reaction times when the same person takes the test multiple times, as well as in the instability of the ratio of reaction times. Also, in various psychophysiological states, a person can concentrate his attention on performing the test to varying degrees and may become tired, which reduces the informative value of the technique. The disadvantages include the fact that when a person’s visual analyzer is busy (reading sentences), switching when a signal of another modality (sound) is presented also introduces an error in the reaction processes and in the variability of the reaction time indicator.

Also, this technique is of little use for repeated testing, because there is an adaptation to the given stimuli.

The problem to which the claimed invention is aimed is to assess the ratio of reproduced reference time intervals when various emotionally significant and insignificant information is presented.

The technical result of the present invention is to assess the severity of the psycho-emotional response when perceiving the presented information.

The theoretical constructs of the diagnostic effectiveness of the proposed method are the facts that the reflection of time in subjective mental reality can slow down and speed up. The standard of time intervals in the human body, according to some authors, is the alpha rhythm, which is influenced by emotionally significant stimuli. Kinesthetic, visual, and auditory perceptions influence a person’s subjective assessment of time. Subjective assessment of the duration of individual periods of time depends on the variety and nature of the experiences that fill them, and the accompanying emotional experience. The duration of situations and influences that cause a pronounced emotional response seems shorter than actual, and the time spent in inactivity, waiting, in conditions of monotonous impressions flows subjectively slowly.

It is believed that neurons of the nonspecific nuclei of the thalamus have the property of autorhythmicity and are pacemakers of time quanta. They generate and maintain the rhythmic activity of the cerebral cortex. The reticular formation of the brain stem also plays an important role, which has a synchronizing effect (generation of a stable rhythm pattern) and a desynchronizing effect (disturbing the rhythm). When exposed to emotionally charged stimuli, desynchronization occurs, disrupting rhythmic activity.

The choice of a reference time interval for subsequent playback is made taking into account the fact that the discrimination of durations up to 500 ms is carried out on the basis of internal standards associated with image formation processes, and more than 500 ms - on the basis of sensory-perceptual information perceived during the estimated time interval. It is shown that, as a rule, short time intervals are overestimated, and long ones are underestimated. In this regard, there was an assumption about the existence of a “neutral” interval, which is perceived without systematic error (overestimation or underestimation). The value of this interval, according to different authors, varies from 0.36 to 5.0 s.

Visceral stimuli are essential in the perception of time. Maximum accuracy occurs at intervals comparable in duration to the period of heart contractions with a pulse rate in the range of 60-80 beats and a respiratory rate of 16-18 respiratory movements per minute. The greater the deviation from this pulsation, the greater the error in timing.

According to the registration data of the galvanic skin response, it follows that the phasic reaction, as a rule, reaches its maximum development in the interval of 1-3 seconds from the beginning of the stimulus, while the presence of a “response” reaction on the curve observed after 4-6 seconds or more is associated not with the presented stimulus, but with an associative memory of events associated with his past.

It was revealed that the reproduction of near-second intervals occurs with the participation of mechanisms of involuntary regulation of attention and memory, while the reproduction of intervals of longer duration is associated with the inclusion of voluntary regulation. In this connection, 1-second intervals should be considered the most optimal rate for assessing a time interval by setting a rhythm, because in this case, voluntary regulation is least involved, and the tempo is maintained due to involuntary regulation.

Thus, the optimal reference time interval for subsequent playback should be considered 3 seconds, and when measured by counting through button presses, the intervals between presses should be about 0.8-1.1 seconds (which in most cases corresponds to the resting heart rate ). At the same time, these intervals may change when studying various processes and depending on the current state. For example, taking a number of pharmacological drugs inhibits the activity of the central nervous system, which requires increasing these intervals.

The need to present clearly emotional stimuli is due to the fact that in this case the degree of reaction to clearly significant stimuli is revealed and the degree of reaction to the topic being assessed is compared with the above-mentioned reaction.

Evaluation of reproducible time intervals can be carried out using the following techniques, which are different options for subjective reproduction of a reference time interval;

- before submitting test stimuli, a stopwatch is started (for example, for 3 seconds) in order to give the person a reference time interval (alternatively, a sensory heart rate alarm can be turned on);

- stimuli are supplied and then after its appearance (or from the moment an additional stimulus is supplied), the person begins counting a subjective time interval equal to 3 seconds until its completion, which is accompanied by pressing a button and recording the subjective time;

- or stimuli are supplied and then after its appearance (or from the moment an additional stimulus is supplied), the person begins counting the subjective time interval by tapping the button at intervals of 1 second for 3 seconds, with the tapping intervals being recorded. To improve the accuracy of reproducing time intervals, additional registration of heart rate and tapping in the rhythm of the heart can be used;

- or a stimulus is given and then, after its appearance, the object begins to move evenly across the screen in the direction of the point of contact (in this case, the time of movement of the object is calculated so that it ends up at the point of contact in 3 seconds), then the moving object disappears in a random place and the person must predict the moment of contact by pressing a button, recording the subjective time of movement of the object (or there may be several such points of contact on the screen, the intersection of which is marked by pressing a button and recording the time interval).

Additionally, a stimulus presentation mode can be used with the presentation of a primer in the form of exposure to a graphic image and/or verbal definition in an unconscious mode with an exposure of 15-150 ms, followed by masking with a neutral stimulus. In addition, it is possible to deliver a stimulus for 3 seconds followed by a pause, during which the person counts a time interval equal to 3 seconds, counted from the moment the signal disappears, with the time of pressing the button being recorded.

Also, to select the optimal duration of the reproduced time interval, registration of the dynamics of electrodermal resistance (and other physiological indicators) can be used to identify the individual response time to a clearly emotionally significant signal presented by a phasic reaction, followed by selection of an individual reproduced time interval. It also contributes to the objectification of psycho-emotional reactions.

After testing, an automated analysis of the obtained data is carried out with the results presented in digital and graphical form.

The technical result is achieved by recording subjectively measured from the moment of the beginning of the presentation of stimuli (or from the moment of supply of an additional stimulus) pre-selected for reproduction of standard time intervals and further calculation of the degree of severity of the psycho-emotional response as the ratio of the times of reproduction of time intervals upon presentation of neutral and explicit and supposed emotionally significant stimuli . In this case, to increase the accuracy of internal timing assessment, time intervals are recorded with a given interval of rhythmic button presses against the background of presentation of the stimuli being assessed. To level out differences in the spread of reproduced time intervals, the interval between rhythmic button presses can be set in the range of heart rate intervals. As an option, the technique of recording a reproducible time interval (as the ratio of the distance traveled to a given uniform speed of movement) can be used for the reaction to a moving object test with the disappearance of the moving object against the background of the presentation of stimuli.

The method is implemented as follows.

A set of groups of neutral (for example, the texture of tree bark, sand, stones, etc.) and explicit (for example, erotic content, causing disgust, etc.) and supposed emotionally significant stimuli (words, pictures, audio recordings, smells) is formed , temperature, vibration, etc.) for subsequent presentation to a person. Then the special computer program “SIGVET-EMOTION” presents a person with a series of reference time intervals (for example, lasting 3 seconds) in the form of stopwatch counts against the background of presentation of a test stimulus with pauses (during which the stimulus is absent) lasting 7 seconds (this interval was chosen due to the fact that, as a rule, when recording the galvanic skin response, the phasic reaction to the stimulus passes). In this way, the reference time interval is stored with the time of pressing a key at the end of the reference interval being recorded. In an implementation variant with assessment of the rhythm of reproduced near-second intervals, a button is pressed in time with the presentation of stopwatch numbers or heartbeats recorded using an ECG or pulse sensor. In the variant of assessing the time interval through a test of the reaction to a moving object, this test is carried out without the disappearance of the moving object.

After which the computer program presents the person with a series of neutral stimuli (for example, images of birds) with pauses. In this case, the person must begin to count the time interval from the moment the stimulus appears until the subjective completion of the duration of the reference time interval, accompanied by pressing a key and fixing the reproduced time interval. Also, the reproduction of a time interval can be carried out when conducting a “reaction to a moving object” test, modified with the disappearance of a moving object, which makes it possible to additionally indirectly assess the balance of excitation-inhibition processes, and when the object disappears, also to assess the accuracy of the reproduced time interval, specified through the ratio of the speed of the object and distances. It is also possible to measure the accuracy of the reproduction of time intervals by rhythmically tapping (started after the presentation of the stimulus) on the button at intervals of 1 second (or at heartbeat intervals, in pre-training with heart rate recording and tapping on the button at the time of each heartbeat) for 3 seconds with fixation of tapping intervals.

The computer program then presents the person with a series of apparently emotionally significant stimuli (eg, erotic content) with pauses and supposedly emotionally significant stimuli (eg, suicidal content). In this case, the person also counts the time interval using the methods described above from the moment the stimulus appears until the subjective completion of the duration of the reference time interval, accompanied by pressing a key and fixing the reproduced time interval.

After which, the computer program displays graphs of reproduced time intervals upon presentation of various series of stimuli for visual analysis, calculates averaged and statistical indicators, and if there is a significant difference in the reproduction of time against the background of the presentation of neutral and emotionally significant stimuli (especially when the difference exceeds the impact of clearly emotionally significant stimuli), it is done a conclusion about the presence of a person’s psycho-emotional involvement in the problem being studied (negative attitude), which can be regarded, for example, when suicidal stimuli are presented as a risk of suicidal behavior. Figure 1 shows an example of a graphical representation in the window of the special program SIGVET-EMOTSIA of the dynamics of reproduced time intervals when stimuli of neutral (green), clearly emotionally significant (blue) and suicidal content (red) are presented to a person without pronounced psychological attitudes)

Examples of practical implementation of the method.

Example 1.

Subject N., 25 years old. When stimuli (in the form of drawings and photographs) of neutral (green on the graph), clearly emotionally significant (blue on the graph) and suicidal content (red on the graph) stimuli were presented, a tendency was revealed to increase the reproduced time interval (reference duration 3000 ms), which can be seen from the average values (3474, 3620, 3589 ms) and instantaneous values on the graph, while the average time of the reproduced time interval against the background of clearly emotionally significant stimuli turned out to be 146 ms longer (or 1.31 times when assessing the ratio of differences with the reference interval of 3 seconds) than when presenting stimuli of neutral content, which is slightly greater than the value of the reproduced time interval against the background of suicidal stimuli (by 115 ms or 1.24 times when assessing the ratio of differences with a reference interval of 3 seconds), which indicates the presence of emotional involvement in suicidal stimuli (negative attitude) of a small degree of severity. In Fig. Figure 2 shows an example of a graphical representation of the dynamics of reproduced time intervals when stimuli with neutral (green), clearly emotionally significant (blue) and suicidal content (red) are presented.

Further in-depth psychological counseling revealed the presence of periodically appearing suicidal thoughts without suicidal attempts.

Example 2.

Subject Yu., 36 years old. When stimuli (in the form of verbal definitions) of neutral, clearly emotionally significant and suicidal content were presented, the following average values (3286, 3432, 2983 ms) of reproducible time intervals were revealed, measured during the test of reaction to a moving object with the disappearance of the moving object. The average time of the reproduced time interval against the background of clearly emotionally significant stimuli turned out to be 1.51 times longer than when presented with stimuli of neutral content. The value of the reproduced time interval against the background of suicidal stimuli is 0.09 times lower, which indicates the presence of pronounced psycho-emotional involvement (negative psycho-emotional attitude).

Further in-depth psychological counseling revealed an incomplete suicide attempt in the anamnesis.

Example 3. Subject M, 31 years old (healthy).

A survey was carried out with the option of recording reproducible time intervals by reproducing subjective 1-second intervals for 3 seconds (4 button presses).

When stimuli with neutral, clearly emotionally significant, and suicidal content were presented, the following average values (916, 940, 907 msec) of reproduced time intervals were revealed. The average time of the reproduced time interval against the background of clearly emotionally significant stimuli turned out to be 1.4 times longer than when presented with stimuli of neutral content. The value of the reproduced time interval against the background of suicidal stimuli is 0.9 times lower, which is similar to the time of the reproduced time interval when neutral stimuli are presented and indicates the absence of psycho-emotional involvement (negative psycho-emotional attitude).

Example 4. Subject F, 29 years old.

An examination was carried out with the option of recording reproducible time intervals by reproducing subjective intervals, pre-set by synchronization with the heart rhythm (preliminary training was carried out to press the button at the moment of heart contraction by giving an audio or visual signal at the moment of the R wave on the ECG), then neutral stimuli were presented , clearly emotionally significant and suicidal content with recording of reproducible time intervals for 3 seconds (4 button presses).

When stimuli with neutral, clearly emotionally significant, and suicidal content were presented, the following average values (960, 816, 952 ms) of reproduced time intervals were revealed. The average time of the reproduced time interval against the background of clearly emotionally significant stimuli turned out to be 1.4 times less than when stimuli of neutral content were presented. The value of the reproduced time interval against the background of suicidal stimuli practically did not differ from neutral ones, which indicates the presence of pronounced psycho-emotional involvement (negative psycho-emotional attitude) when presented with stimuli of clearly emotionally charged content (erotic).

An in-depth psychological examination revealed psychological problems in the sexual sphere.

Example 5. Subject K, 39 years old. The situation of choice when making a decision.

The severity of positive emotional involvement is an important indicator of comfort when choosing a solution. An examination was carried out with the option of recording reproducible time intervals by reproducing subjective intervals, pre-set by synchronization with the heart rhythm (preliminary training was carried out to press the button at the moment of heart contraction by giving an audio or visual signal at the moment of the R wave on the ECG), then stimuli were presented ( in the form of verbal definitions prepared in advance by the subject, neutral and having positive components in the event of the implementation of one or another choice) and registration of reproducible time intervals for 3 seconds (4 button presses).

When the stimuli of the first choice were presented, the value of the reproduced time interval turned out to be 1.53 times greater, and that of the second - 1.14 times. As a result, a decision was made in favor of the first choice when solving a situational problem. Subsequent events confirmed the correctness of the choice made.

Example 6.

Subject N., 25 years old. When stimuli (in the form of drawings and photographs) that were neutral (green on the graph), clearly emotionally significant (blue on the graph) and related to fear of heights (red on the graph) were presented, a tendency was revealed to increase the reproduced time interval (reference duration 3000 ms ), which can be seen from the average values (3070, 3307, 3239 ms) and instantaneous values on the graph, while the average time of the reproduced time interval against the background of clearly emotionally significant stimuli turned out to be 237 ms longer than when stimuli of neutral content were presented, which is more than the value of the reproduced time interval against the background of suicidal stimuli by 149 ms, which indicates the presence of psycho-emotional involvement (negative attitude) of a small degree of severity when being at a height. In Fig. Figure 3 shows an example of a graphical representation of the dynamics of reproduced time intervals when stimuli that are neutral (green), clearly emotionally significant (blue) and those associated with fear of heights (red) are presented.

Further in-depth psychological counseling revealed the presence of a fear of heights, which can be controlled.

Thus, the practical use of the method confirmed the possibility of solving the stated problem, technical feasibility, simplicity, reliability and accessibility of use, as well as high efficiency of use for solving various problems in the field of practical psychology.

Claims (1)

A method for assessing a psycho-emotional response, including the determination and subsequent comparison of the latent time of a simple sensorimotor reaction to sound stimuli presented during the demonstration of verbal information of a neutral and stressful nature, characterized in that preliminary training is performed on the individual ability to reproduce a given reference time interval of 3 s, demonstrated on a stopwatch , after which verbal information selected from the data bank is demonstrated in the form of verbal stimuli or images of neutral and stressful content, after the demonstration of each stimulus the person begins counting a subjective time interval of 3 s, which is accompanied by pressing a button and recording the subjective time, then the average values are calculated reproduction of subjective time for each stimulus and determine statistical criteria for the significance of the differences in the recorded reproduced intervals of subjective time at the moment of presentation of neutral and emotionally significant information, and if there is a statistically significant difference in the reproduction of subjective time for the presentation of neutral and emotionally significant stimuli, they conclude that a person has psycho-emotional involvement in the problem being studied.