Applied Fields: Psychophysiology

Introduction

The major focus of this entry will be to provide a clear rationale for the application of psychophysiological approaches and methods to areas of applied psychology. We will examine the reasons for their application, the psychological constructs and processes to be assessed, the methods employed, and specific issues concerning applied uses of these techniques. Specific guidance on psychophysiological recording has been dealt with elsewhere, together with entries on brain [Page 84]activity and ambulatory monitoring. For background reading and a general reference source, Cacioppo, Tassinary and Berntson's Handbook of Psychophysiology, 2nd Edition (2000) is recommended. Other useful introductory texts include Caccioppo and Tassinary (1990), Hugdahl (1995) and Stern, Ray and Davis (1980).

Definitions and Constructs

Psychophysiology can be loosely defined as the study of psychological constructs and processes using non-invasive physiological measures (see Cacioppo, Tassinary & Berntson, 2000; Turpin, 1989). Traditionally it is distinguished from physiological psychology by emphasizing the importance of studying the intact and conscious organism, usually in the absence of invasive techniques, which might disrupt and limit consciousness or behaviour. As such, the usual domain of psychophysiology has been the measurement of peripheral autonomic and central cortical measures within human participants studied whilst engaged in psychologically relevant tasks or natural situations. In contrast, physiological psychology has tended to use animal subjects and to measure invasively, usually directly from the nervous system, using implanted electrodes, and frequently employing invasive manipulations such as lesioning, infusion of pharmacological agents, direct stimulation etc. More recently, these boundaries have become less distinct since physiological psychology has been incorporated within the greater multidisciplinary arena of neuroscience, and psychophysiology has been extended by more direct but still non-invasive measures of brain activity and structure such as functional imaging, dense array electroencephalography and magnetography (see Cacioppo et al., 2000). Nevertheless the cardinal features of psychophysiology as being the study of psychological processes, largely from human participants and using non-invasive physiological measures, are central to the successful application of the discipline to more applied areas of study.

Applied Psychophysiology

Psychophysiology has always been essentially an applied discipline since its identity has been very much to do with the measures employed and their various applications. Recently, Cacioppo et al. (2000) described this as systemic psychophysiology, which refers to the study of the various physiological systems (i.e. electrodermal, cardiovascular, cortical etc.) with respect to measurement, quantification and their relationships to psychological processes and paradigms. Much psychophysiological research has been methodologically focused in validating either specific physiological measures or their use as indices of psychological constructs. Subsequently, these measures have then been applied to theoretical questions derived from other branches of psychology including both fundamental and applied research. Traditional areas of application have included psychopathology research and the search for physiological markers of psychological disorder, as well as the development of clinical assessment and outcome measures (Keller, Hicks & Miller, 2000; Stoney & Lentino, 2000; Turpin, 1989). The measurement of stress and cognitive performance using psychophysiological parameters has also meant that these techniques have been used extensively within human factors and ergonomic research (Kramer & Weber, 2000). Other applied areas where psychophysiological approaches have been adopted have included attitude measurement, applied developmental psychology, environmental and specific polygraphy (i.e. lie detection) applications (Cacioppo et al., 2000).

...