A STUDY OF FACTORS (EMOTIONAL) RESPONSIBLE FOR CHANGES IN THE PATTERN OF SPONTANEOUS RHYTHMIC FLUCTUATIONS IN THE VOLUME OF THE VASCULAR BED OF THE FINGER TIP 1

Abstract

Comparison has been made between plethysmographic records of spontaneous rhythmic fluctuations in the volume of the finger tip and psychiatric records describing the emotional status of the subject. During periods of contentment and relaxation, the rhythmic fluctuations were small and were associated with large pulse waves. When anxiety was the dominant mood, the rhythmic fluctuations were also small but were associated with small pulse waves. During mild anxiety or depression or resentment, the rhythmic fluctuations were very large and the pulse waves were of varying size. On the assumption that changes in the degree of activity of the autonomic nervous system parallel changes in emotional status, an explanation is proposed for the variations in the patterns of the rhythmic fluctuations with variations in mood.