Placebo in emotional processing--induced expectations of anxiety relief activate a generalized modulatory network.

Placebo analgesia and reward processing share several features. For instance, expectations have a strong influence on the subsequent emotional experience of both. Recent imaging data indicate similarities in the underlying neuronal network.

Time course and variability of power in different frequency bands of EEG during resting conditions.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the variability of EEG power spectrum data, considering the time course of the EEG spectrum in resting conditions, and the relationship between the spectral parameters and the length of the analyzed segments. Recordings were performed in 57 normal subjects, with a protocol consisting of regular cycles with open eyes (5 s) followed by closed eyes (55 s) repeated during 10 min. Towards the end of the recording there was a decrease in the alpha and beta power and an increase in the delta and theta power.

The effects of literacy and education on the quantitative and qualitative aspects of semantic verbal fluency.

Semantic verbal fluency tasks are commonly used in neuropsychological assessment. Investigations of the influence of level of literacy have not yielded consistent results in the literature. This prompted us to investigate the ecological relevance of task specifics, in particular, the choice of semantic criteria used.

Instruction-specific brain activations during episodic encoding. a generalized level of processing effect.

In a within-subject design we investigated the levels-of-processing (LOP) effect using visual material in a behavioral and a corresponding PET study. In the behavioral study we characterize a generalized LOP effect, using pleasantness and graphical quality judgments in the encoding situation, with two types of visual material, figurative and nonfigurative line drawings. In the PET study we investigate the related pattern of brain activations along these two dimensions.

Alcohol activates the cerebral reward system in man.

Objective: We investigated the effect of 0.07% alcohol on regional brain activity at rest and during cognitive performance in order to elucidate the anatomical substrate for the effects of alcohol in man as well as to clarify the interaction between changes in cerebral activity induced by cognitive performance and alcohol inebriation.

Method: Regional cerebral blood flow (3D-PET, 15O Butanol) was measured in 13 male, nonalcoholic volunteers.