La conduite automobile est l’une des rares tâches nécessitant un apprentissage et le passage d’un examen initial, qui ne prévoit pas de mise en situation critique ni l’obligation de recyclages réguliers. En conséquence, les conducteurs ne connaissent pas les nouveaux systèmes d’aide et de sécurité proposés par les constructeurs automobiles et risquent de ne pas ou de mal s’en servir en conduite nominale. L’objectif de ce travail a été de vérifier, auprès de conducteurs novices et expérimentés, leur réelle capacité à utiliser les systèmes d’aide et de sécurité impliqués dans la régulation longitudinale du véhicule, en situation nominale et en situation d’urgence. Des essais ont été menés sur route, piste et simulateur de conduite. L’originalité de l’étude a porté sur la mesure du comportement du conducteur et de ses performances, pour approcher au mieux leur état fonctionnel (éveil physiologique, attention) induit par la charge mentale lorsqu’ils étaient confrontés à ces situations. On a privilégié l’utilisation de mesures physiologiques en continu et, en particulier, celles de l’activité électrodermale. Les résultats obtenus ont permis de conclure que les conducteurs -soumis à une situation critique, et en conséquence à une charge mentale élevée - utilisaient ces systèmes d’aide de manière inappropriée. Découlent de ces conclusions, deux offres de formations pour pallier la méconnaissance et la mauvaise utilisation des systèmes d’aide et de sécurité / Driving is one of the few activities which require both training and initial examination, but for which there are neither critical situation testing nor regular refresher courses. This creates two key problems: Through a lack of knowledge of the driving aids and safety systems offered by car manufacturers, drivers may fail to use or may misuse them in normal driving situations; secondly, an emergency situation may become critical if the driver has not previously experienced it in controlled conditions. The aim of this study was to check novice and experienced drivers’ ability to use the driving aids and safety systems proposed for vehicle longitudinal control in both nominal and critical situations. Trials were carried out in the field, on tracks and on driving simulators. The uniqueness of the study comes from combining driver behaviour and performance measurements to best correspond to the attention and workload observed when drivers were subjected to these situations. We therefore favoured the use of continuous physiological measures, and in particular electrodermal activity. The results enabled us to conclude that the use of these systems in critical situations was often inappropriate and necessitated a high workload. These conclusions led to the development and deployment of two training programmes in order to compensate for the lack of knowledge and misuse of the driving aids and safety systems

O comportamento opositor é frequente na infância e está associado a sintomas internalizantes e externalizantes, podendo causar prejuízos na adolescência e na vida adulta. Estudos recentes apontam que o comportamento opositor abrange três dimensões com comorbidades e valores preditivos particulares, como irritabilidade, oposição e ofensiva. Também sugerem que tanto a hiporresponsividade quanto a hiper-responsividade cutânea simpática estão associadas a algum comportamento agressivo e/ou antissocial. A essa responsividade dá-se o nome de arousal. A hipótese deste estudo é de que as diferentes dimensões do comportamento de oposição estão associadas a níveis aumentados de arousal. O objetivo do trabalho foi verificar a associação entre as dimensões do comportamento de oposição e os níveis de arousal em adolescentes. Além disso, pretendeu-se verificar a relação entre os comportamentos específicos, como agressão verbal, física ou social, e os níveis de arousal e a associação entre a trajetória e o número necessário de estímulo aversivo até a habituação com as diferentes dimensões de oposição. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com adolescentes de escolas públicas da área de abrangência do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA). Para avaliar o comportamento opositor e suas dimensões, utilizou-se a escala Youth Self Report. Para avaliar o comportamento agressivo, utilizou-se a versão brasileira modificada do Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. O arousal foi avaliado por meio da resposta cutânea simpática (RCS). Para investigar a RCS, aplicaram-se 10 estímulos aversivos nos adolescentes e mediuse a amplitude de cada resposta gerada. A associação entre comportamento de oposição (variável dependente) e arousal (variável independente) foi investigada por meio de um modelo geral linear, enquanto as análises exploratórias foram avaliadas por meio de correlação linear e análises repetidas de covariância. Este estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética do HCPA. Um total de 38 estudantes com média idade de 13,83 (DP=1,46) anos foram incluídos no estudo. A RCS aumentada esteve associada ao comportamento de oposição [Pillai’s Trace=0,234; F(2,33)=5,037; p=0,012; Xp 2=0,234], e as meninas apresentam maiores níveis de comportamento de oposição [Pillai’s Trace=0,219; F(2,33)=4,637; p=0,017; Xp 2=0,219]. Entretanto, tal associação foi específica para as dimensões de oposição e ofensiva [F(1,34)=7,802; p=0,009; Xp 2=0,187]. Não houve associação entre níveis de arousal e idade. As análises exploratórias revelaram que a RCS aumentada está associada a diversos tipos de comportamento de oposição e ofensivo relacionados ao comportamento agressivo [Pillai’s Trace=0,487; F(3,29)=9,189; p<0,001; Xp 2=0,487] e que apenas o primeiro estímulo aversivo foi responsável pela diferença entre adolescentes com níveis maiores e menores de comportamento opositor [F(9,197)=2,548; p=0,008]. Não se observou diferença significativa entre esses grupos e o número de estímulo até habituação. Este foi o primeiro estudo a investigar os aspectos psicofisiológicos de comportamento de oposição por meio da RCS em adolescentes. Os resultados confirmam a hipótese de que a resposta autonômica simpática pode variar de acordo com as dimensões de comportamento de oposição. Apesar das limitações do estudo, os achados auxiliam na validação das distintas dimensões do comportamento de oposição. / Oppositional behaviors during childhood are common, and are associated with symptoms of internalizing and externalizing. Oppositionality can negatively affect adolescence and adult life. Recent studies have shown that oppositionality encompasses three distinct dimensions with different predictive values of comorbidity: irritable, headstrong, and hurtful. Other studies suggest that both increased and reduced sympathetic skin response (SSR) are linked to antisocial and/or aggressive behavior. This response is called arousal. Our hypothesis is that the oppositionality dimensions are associated with increased levels of arousal. We aimed to examine the relationship between oppositional behavior dimensions and arousal levels in an adolescent sample. In addition, we studied the correlation between specific aggressive behavior, such as verbal, physical or social aggression and arousal levels. We also identified the link between the trajectory and number of aversive stimuli necessary for habituation to different oppositional dimensions. This is a cross-sectional study encompassing teenage students from public schools in the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) coverage area. Oppositionality and its dimensions were assessed with the Youth Self Report scale and aggressive behavior was evaluated with the Brazilian modified version of Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. Arousability was assessed through SSR at the neurology department at HCPA. To assess SSR, we delivered 10 aversive stimuli to adolescents and measured the amplitude of each SSR generated. The association between oppositionality (dependent variable) and arousal (independent variable) was analyzed using general linear models and the exploratory analyses were studied with linear correlations and repeated covariance analyses. This study was approved by HCPA’s ethical committee. A total of 38 students with an average age of 13.84 (SD= 1.46) years were included in the study. Increased SSR was linked with oppositional behavior [Pillai’s Trace=0.234; F(2.33)=5.037; p=0.012; Xp 2 = 0.234] and girls showed higher levels of oppositional behavior [Pillai’s Trace=0.219; F(2.33)=4.637; p=0.017; Xp 2= .219]. However, this correlation is specific to headstrong/ hurtful dimensions [F(1.34)=7.802; p=0.009; Xp 2 0.187]. There was no link between arousal and age. The exploratory analyses showed that increased SSR is associated with several types of headstrong/hurtful behaviors related to bullying [Pillai’s Trace=0.487; F(3.29)=9.189; p<0.001; Xp 2=0.487] and only the first aversive stimulus was responsible for the difference between adolescents with high and low oppositional behavior scores [F(9.197)=2.548; p=0.008]. There were no differences between these groups in terms of the number of stimulinecessary for habituation. This is the first study to examine the psychophysiological aspects of oppositional behaviors in an adolescent community sample using SSR. The results confirm our hypothesis that sympathetic autonomic response can vary based on types of oppositional behavior. Despite our limitations, the results help validate the different dimensions of oppositionality and indicate that oppositional behaviors are modulated by both environmental and biological factors.

In der vorliegenden Untersuchung wurde ein arbeitspsychologisches Problem thematisiert, dass in Mensch-Maschine-Systemen auftritt. <br /> In Mensch-Maschine-Systemen werden Informationen in kodierter Form ausgetauscht. Diese inhaltlich verkürzte Informationsübertragung hat den Vorteil, keine lange Zustandsbeschreibung zu benötigen, so dass der Mensch auf die veränderten Zustände schnell und effizient reagieren kann. Dies wird aber nur dann ermöglicht, wenn der Mensch die kodierten Informationen (Kodes) vorher erlernten Bedeutungen zuordnen kann. Je nach Art der kodierten Informationen (visuelle, akustische oder alphanumerische Signale) wurden Gestaltungsempfehlungen für Kodealphabete entwickelt. <br /> Für Operateure resultiert die mentale Belastung durch Dekodierungsprozesse vor allem aus dem Umfang des Kodealphabetes (Anzahl von Kodezeichen), der wahrnehmungsmäßigen Gestaltung der Kodes und den Regeln über die Zuordnung von Bedeutungen zu Kodezeichen. <br /> <br /> Die Entscheidung über die Güte von Kodealphabeten geschieht in der Arbeitspsychologie in der Regel über Leistungsindikatoren. Dies sind üblicherweise die zur Dekodierung der Kodes benötigte Zeit und dabei auftretende Zuordnungsfehler. Psychophysiologische Daten werden oft nicht herangezogen.<br /> Fraglich ist allerdings, ob Zeiten und Fehler allein verlässliche Indikatoren für den kognitiven Aufwand bei Dekodierungsprozessen sind, da im hochgeübten Zustand bei gleichen Alphabetlängen, aber unterschiedlicher Kodezeichengestaltung sich häufig die mittleren Dekodierungszeiten zwischen Kodealphabeten nicht signifikant unterscheiden und Fehler überhaupt nicht auftreten. <br /> Die in der vorliegenden Arbeit postulierte Notwendigkeit der Ableitung von Biosignalen gründet sich auf die Annahme, dass mit ihrer Hilfe zusätzliche Informationen über die mentale Beanspruchung bei Dekodierungsprozessen gewonnen werden können, die mit der Erhebung von Leistungsdaten nicht erfasst werden. Denn gerade dann, wenn sich die Leistungsdaten zweier Kodealphabete nicht unterscheiden, können psychophysiologische Daten unterschiedliche Aspekte mentaler Beanspruchung erfassen, die mit Hilfe von Leistungsdaten nicht bestimmt werden können. <br /> Daher wird in Erweiterung des etablierten Untersuchungsansatzes vorgeschlagen, Biosignale als dritten Datenbereich, neben Leistungsdaten und subjektiven Daten mentaler Beanspruchung, abzuleiten, um zusätzliche Informationen über die mentale Beanspruchung bei Dekodierungsprozessen zu erhalten.<br /> Diese Annahme sollte mit Hilfe der Ableitung von Biosignalen überprüft werden. <br /> <br /> Der Begriff mentaler Beanspruchung wird in der bisherigen Literatur nur unzureichend definiert und differenziert. Daher wird zur Untersuchung dieses Konzepts, die wissenschaftliche Literatur berücksichtigend, ein erweitertes Modell mentaler Beanspruchung vorgestellt.<br /> Dabei wird die mentale Beanspruchung abgegrenzt von der emotionalen Beanspruchung. Mentale Beanspruchung wird weiterhin unterschieden in psychomotorische, perzeptive und kognitive Beanspruchung. Diese Aspekte mentaler Beanspruchung werden jeweils vom psychomotorischen, perzeptiven oder kognitiven Aufwand der zu bearbeitenden Aufgabe ausgelöst.<br /> <br /> In der vorliegenden Untersuchung wurden zwei zentrale Fragestellungen untersucht:<br /> Einerseits wurde die Analyse der anwendungsbezogenen Frage fokussiert, inwieweit psychophysiologische Indikatoren mentaler Beanspruchung über die Leistungsdaten (Dekodierungszeiten und Fehleranzahl) hinaus, zusätzliche Informationen zur Bestimmung der Güte von Kodealphabeten liefern. <br /> Andererseits wurde der Forschungsaspekt untersucht, inwieweit psychophysiologische Indikatoren mentaler Beanspruchung die zur Dekodierung notwendigen perzeptiven und kognitiven Aspekte mentaler Beanspruchung differenzieren können. Emotionale Beanspruchung war nicht Gegenstand der Analysen, weshalb in der Operationalisierung versucht wurde, sie weitgehend zu vermeiden. Psychomotorische Beanspruchung als dritter Aspekt mentaler Beanspruchung (neben perzeptiver und kognitiver Beanspruchung) wurde für beide Experimentalgruppen weitgehend konstant gehalten.<br /> <br /> In Lernexperimenten hatten zwei anhand eines Lern- und Gedächtnistests homogenisierte Stichproben jeweils die Bedeutung von 54 Kodes eines Kodealphabets zu erwerben. Dabei wurde jeder der zwei unahbhängigen Stichproben ein anderes Kodealphabet vorgelegt, wobei sich die Kodealphabete hinsichtlich Buchstabenanzahl (Kodelänge) und anzuwendender Zuordnungsregeln unterschieden. Damit differierten die Kodealphabete im perzeptiven und kognitiven Aspekt mentaler Beanspruchung.<br /> Die Kombination der Abkürzungen entsprach den in einer Feuerwehrleitzentrale verwendeten (Kurzbeschreibungen von Notfallsituationen). In der Lernphase wurden den Probanden zunächst die Kodealphabete geblockt mit ihren Bedeutungen präsentiert. <br /> Anschließend wurden die Kodes (ohne deren Bedeutung) in sechs aufeinanderfolgenden Prüfphasen randomisiert einzeln dargeboten, wobei die Probanden instruiert waren, die Bedeutung der jeweiligen Kodes in ein Mikrofon zu sprechen. <br /> Während des gesamten Experiments wurden, neben Leistungsdaten (Dekodierungszeiten und Fehleranzahl) und subjektiven Daten über die mentale Beanspruchung im Verlauf der Experimente, folgende zentralnervöse und peripherphysiologische Biosignale abgeleitet: Blutdruck, Herzrate, phasische und tonische elektrodermale Aktivität und Elektroenzephalogramm. Aus ihnen wurden zunächst 13 peripherphysiologische und 7 zentralnervöse Parameter berechnet, von denen 7 peripherphysiologische und 3 zentralnervöse Parameter die statistischen Voraussetzungen (Einschlusskriterien) soweit erfüllten, dass sie in die inferenzstatistische Datenanalyse einbezogen wurden.<br /> <br /> Leistungsdaten und subjektive Beanspruchungseinschätzungen der Versuchsdurchgänge wurden zu den psychophysiologischen Parametern in Beziehung gesetzt. Die Befunde zeigen, dass mittels der psychophysiologischen Daten zusätzliche Erkenntnisse über den kognitiven Aufwand gewonnen werden können.<br /> <br /> Als weitere Analyse wurden die Kodes post hoc in zwei neue Kodealphabete eingeteilt. Ziel dieser Analyse war es, die Unterschiede zwischen beiden Kodealphabeten zu erhöhen, um deutlichere reizbezogene psychophysiologische Unterschiede in den EEG-Daten zwischen den Kodealphabeten zu erhalten. Dazu wurde diejenigen, hinsichtlich ihrer Bedeutung, parallelen Kodes in beiden Kodealphabeten ausgewählt, die sich in der Dekodierungszeit maximal voneinander unterschieden. Eine erneute Analyse der EEG-Daten erbrachte jedoch keine Verbesserung der Ergebnisse.<br /> <br /> Drei Hauptergebnisse bezüglich der psychophysiologischen Parameter konnten festgestellt werden:<br /> Das erste Ergebnis ist für die psychophysiologische Methodik bedeutsam. Viele psychophysiologische Parameter unterschieden zwischen den Prüfphasen und zeigen damit eine hinreichende Sensitivität zur Untersuchung mentaler Beanspruchung bei Dekodierungsprozessen an. Dazu gehören die Anzahl der spontanen Hautleitwertsreaktionen, die Amplitude der Hautleitwertsreaktionen, das Hautleitwertsniveau, die Herzrate, die Herzratendifferenz und das Beta-2-Band des EEG. Diese Parameter zeigen einen ähnlichen Verlauf wie die Leistungsdaten. Dies zeigt, dass es möglich ist, die hier operationaliserte Art mentaler Beanspruchung in Form von Dekodierungsprozessen psychophysiologisch zu analysieren.<br /> <br /> Ein zweites Ergebnis betrifft die Möglichkeit, Unterschiede mentaler Beanspruchung zwischen beiden Gruppen psychophysiologisch abzubilden:<br /> Das Hautleitwertsniveau und das Theta-Frequenzband des Spontan-EEG zeigten Unterschiede zwischen beiden Stichproben von der ersten Prüfphase an. Diese Parameter indizieren unterschiedlichen kognitiven Aufwand in beiden Stichproben über alle Prüfphasen.<br /> <br /> Das wichtigste Ergebnis betrifft die Frage nach einem Informationsgewinn bei Einsatz psychophysiologischer Methoden zur Bewertung der Güte von Kodealphabeten: <br /> Einen tatsächlichen Informationsgewinn gegenüber den Leistungsdaten zeigte die Amplitude der elektrodermalen Aktivität und die Herzraten-Differenz an. Denn in den späteren Prüfphasen, wenn sich die Leistungsdaten beider Kodealphabete nicht mehr unterschieden, konnten unterschiedliche Ausprägungen dieser psychophysiologischen Parameter zwischen beiden Kodealphabeten verzeichnet werden. Damit konnten unterschiedliche Aspekte mentaler Beanspruchung in beiden Kodealphabeten in den späteren Prüfphasen erfasst werden, in denen sich die Leistungsdaten nicht mehr unterschieden. <br /> <br /> Alle drei Ergebnisse zeigen, dass es, trotz erheblichen technischen und methodischen Aufwands, sinnvoll erscheint, bei der Charakterisierung mentaler Belastungen und für die Gestaltung von Kodealphabeten auch psychophysiologische Daten heranzuziehen, da zusätzliche Informationen über den perzeptiven und kognitiven Dekodierungsaufwand gewonnen werden können. / In this study a problem from the work psychology was focussed, which appears in human-machine systems.<br /> In human-machine systems informations were exchanged as codes. Using this kind of shortened information transmission needs no long description of the system state, so that the operator can react to the changed system state in a quick and efficient way. This is possible only in this case, if the operator has learned the meaning of the codes before. For the different kinds of coded informations (visual, acoustic or alphanumeric signals) special recommendations for their design were developed.<br /> Mental workload caused by decoding processes resulting from the size of the code alphabet, the percepted design of the codes, and the rules about the allocation of code meanings.<br /> <br /> The decision about the validity of code alphabets in work psychology is normally made by indicators of performance, which are the decoding times and decoding mistakes. Nearly all studies do not refer to psychophysiological data. <br /> It is questioned, if times and mistakes alone are valid indicators for the cognitive cost, because in well learned state and for the same size of the code alphabet but different design of the codes, the decoding times between code alphabets are not significantly different, and mistakes do not appear.<br /> This study postulates a necessity for the registration of psychophysiological data, so that additionally informations, which are not included in the performance data, can be examined. If the performance data does not differ between two code alphabets, psychophysiological data measures different aspects of mental workload, which could not be detected by performance data. To enlarge the established approach, it is recommended to registrate biosignals as a third domain of data to get additional informations about decoding processes.<br /> These hypotheses should be verified by registration of biosignals.<br /> <br /> There are vague definitions and deficient differentiations of the concept of mental workload in the scientific publications. To examine mental workload an enlarged model of mental workload is presented. Mental workload is delimited from emotional strain. Furthermore mental workload is differentiated in psychomotoric, perceptive, and cognitive aspects. These aspects of mental workload are caused by the psychomotoric, perceptive, and cognitive cost, which are initiated by the assigned task.<br /> <br /> Two main questions were examined in this study. <br /> First question refers to applied research. Do psychophysiological indicators of mental workload provide more information about the validity of code alphabets than performance data?<br /> The second question refers to what extent psychophysiological indicators of mental workload necessary for the decoding process could differentiate the perceptive and cognitive aspects of mental workload. <br /> <br /> >The emotional strain was not the objective of this study, therefore it was excluded from the experimental design.<br /> Psychomotoric workload as the third aspect of mental workload was a constant value for both experimental samples.<br /> <br /> In two learning experiments two samples with identical habituational memory performance were instructed to learn the meaning of 54 codes of a code alphabet. Both samples was presented another code alphabet, which differed in the number of included letters and the allocation rules. Thus the two code alphabets differed in the perceptive and in the cognitive aspect of mental workload.<br /> The combination of abbreviations was comparable to those used in a fire station. In a learning phase the code alphabets were presented with their meanings. Afterwards the codes were presented without their meanings in six following tests phases. Subjects were instructed to answer in a microphone. <br /> During the whole experiment performance data, subjective data of perceived strain, and psychophysiological data were registrated. The psychophysiological data contained: blood pressure, heart rate, phasic and tonic electrodermal activity, and the EEG. Thirteen peripherphysiological and seven EEG parameters were extracted from these raw data. Seven peripherphysiological and three EEG parameters accomplished the statistical premises and were included to further statistical analysis.<br /> Performance data and subjective data were set in relation to the psychophysiological parameters. The outcomes showed that using psychophysiological data generate additional informations about the cognitive cost.<br /> <br /> For further analysis the code items were divided into two new code alphabets. The intention of this analysis was to maximize the difference between the two code alphabets to get more stimuli based psychophysiological differences in the EEG data. This analysis included those pairs of codes with identical meaning and maximum difference in their decoding time. This further analysis did not improve the outcomes. <br /> <br /> Three main outcomes in respect to the psychophysiological data were detected. <br /> The first one is an important outcome for psychophysiological methodology. Many psychophysiological parameters differ between the test phases and thus show a sufficient sensitivity to examine mental workload in decoding processes. The number of spontaneous electrodermal responses, the amplitude of electrodermal responses, the electrodermal level, the heart rate, the heart rate difference, and the beta-2 frequency band of the EEG belong to these parameters. These parameters show a similar distribution like performance data. This shows the possibility of the operationalized mental workload through decoding processes analysable with psychophysiological methods.<br /> A second outcome concerns the possibility to show differences in mental workload between both samples in psychophysiological parameters:<br /> The electrodermal level and the theta frequency band of the EEG showed differences between both samples beginning from the first test phase. These parameters indicate different cognitive cost in both samples in all test phases.<br /> <br /> The most important outcome regards to the profit of information by using psychophysiological methods to test the validity of code alphabets. The amplitude of the electrodermal responses and the heart rate difference shows a surplus of information compared to performance data. Thus in later test phases, in which the performance data did no longer differ, different characteristics of psychophysiological parameters between both code alphabets were registrated. Therefore different aspects of mental workload could be quantified.<br /> <br /> All three outcomes showed that, nevertheless of the considerable technical and methodological expenditure, it is reasonable to use psychophysiological data to design code alphabets, because it supplies additional information about the perceptional and cognitive cost of the decoding processes.

In schizophrenia, subtle aberrations in the brain cause functional disturbances like psychotic symptoms and social disability. There are, however, also disturbances outside the CNS indicating a systemic manifestation in the disease. The aim of the present thesis was to gain deeper understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying schizophrenia with a particular interest in peripheral and systemic manifestations with relevance for the increased risk of obesity and metabolic complications seen in the disease. Therefore, resting energy expenditure (REE), physical capacity, and relevant body composition variables were measured in patients with schizophrenia and in healthy controls. Also niacin skin flush response and electrodermal activity (EDA) were studied. Patients with schizophrenia exhibited significantly lower REE expressed as kJ/kg, and also lower values compared with predicted levels than the controls. The difference could not be attributed to medication or variations in body composition between the two groups. There was a gender difference with the lowest levels found in male patients. Male patients exhibited significantly lower physical capacity in terms of predicted maximal oxygen uptake capacity and faster increase in respiratory quotient than male controls. The oral niacin test revealed a significantly delayed skin flush reaction in patients compared with controls. The patients also exhibited lower EDA response. There was a significant association in response patterns for the niacin and the EDA tests in the patients, but not in controls. In a test-retest study in patients there was acceptable stability for EDA measures but low test-retest stability for niacin variables. The previously found association in responses for the two tests was, however, replicated. The results gain support for the concept of schizophrenia as a disease with systemic manifestations including metabolic dysregulation. The findings add to the understanding of the weight gain and the increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity seen in this condition.

O comportamento opositor é frequente na infância e está associado a sintomas internalizantes e externalizantes, podendo causar prejuízos na adolescência e na vida adulta. Estudos recentes apontam que o comportamento opositor abrange três dimensões com comorbidades e valores preditivos particulares, como irritabilidade, oposição e ofensiva. Também sugerem que tanto a hiporresponsividade quanto a hiper-responsividade cutânea simpática estão associadas a algum comportamento agressivo e/ou antissocial. A essa responsividade dá-se o nome de arousal. A hipótese deste estudo é de que as diferentes dimensões do comportamento de oposição estão associadas a níveis aumentados de arousal. O objetivo do trabalho foi verificar a associação entre as dimensões do comportamento de oposição e os níveis de arousal em adolescentes. Além disso, pretendeu-se verificar a relação entre os comportamentos específicos, como agressão verbal, física ou social, e os níveis de arousal e a associação entre a trajetória e o número necessário de estímulo aversivo até a habituação com as diferentes dimensões de oposição. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com adolescentes de escolas públicas da área de abrangência do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA). Para avaliar o comportamento opositor e suas dimensões, utilizou-se a escala Youth Self Report. Para avaliar o comportamento agressivo, utilizou-se a versão brasileira modificada do Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. O arousal foi avaliado por meio da resposta cutânea simpática (RCS). Para investigar a RCS, aplicaram-se 10 estímulos aversivos nos adolescentes e mediuse a amplitude de cada resposta gerada. A associação entre comportamento de oposição (variável dependente) e arousal (variável independente) foi investigada por meio de um modelo geral linear, enquanto as análises exploratórias foram avaliadas por meio de correlação linear e análises repetidas de covariância. Este estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética do HCPA. Um total de 38 estudantes com média idade de 13,83 (DP=1,46) anos foram incluídos no estudo. A RCS aumentada esteve associada ao comportamento de oposição [Pillai’s Trace=0,234; F(2,33)=5,037; p=0,012; Xp 2=0,234], e as meninas apresentam maiores níveis de comportamento de oposição [Pillai’s Trace=0,219; F(2,33)=4,637; p=0,017; Xp 2=0,219]. Entretanto, tal associação foi específica para as dimensões de oposição e ofensiva [F(1,34)=7,802; p=0,009; Xp 2=0,187]. Não houve associação entre níveis de arousal e idade. As análises exploratórias revelaram que a RCS aumentada está associada a diversos tipos de comportamento de oposição e ofensivo relacionados ao comportamento agressivo [Pillai’s Trace=0,487; F(3,29)=9,189; p<0,001; Xp 2=0,487] e que apenas o primeiro estímulo aversivo foi responsável pela diferença entre adolescentes com níveis maiores e menores de comportamento opositor [F(9,197)=2,548; p=0,008]. Não se observou diferença significativa entre esses grupos e o número de estímulo até habituação. Este foi o primeiro estudo a investigar os aspectos psicofisiológicos de comportamento de oposição por meio da RCS em adolescentes. Os resultados confirmam a hipótese de que a resposta autonômica simpática pode variar de acordo com as dimensões de comportamento de oposição. Apesar das limitações do estudo, os achados auxiliam na validação das distintas dimensões do comportamento de oposição. / Oppositional behaviors during childhood are common, and are associated with symptoms of internalizing and externalizing. Oppositionality can negatively affect adolescence and adult life. Recent studies have shown that oppositionality encompasses three distinct dimensions with different predictive values of comorbidity: irritable, headstrong, and hurtful. Other studies suggest that both increased and reduced sympathetic skin response (SSR) are linked to antisocial and/or aggressive behavior. This response is called arousal. Our hypothesis is that the oppositionality dimensions are associated with increased levels of arousal. We aimed to examine the relationship between oppositional behavior dimensions and arousal levels in an adolescent sample. In addition, we studied the correlation between specific aggressive behavior, such as verbal, physical or social aggression and arousal levels. We also identified the link between the trajectory and number of aversive stimuli necessary for habituation to different oppositional dimensions. This is a cross-sectional study encompassing teenage students from public schools in the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) coverage area. Oppositionality and its dimensions were assessed with the Youth Self Report scale and aggressive behavior was evaluated with the Brazilian modified version of Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. Arousability was assessed through SSR at the neurology department at HCPA. To assess SSR, we delivered 10 aversive stimuli to adolescents and measured the amplitude of each SSR generated. The association between oppositionality (dependent variable) and arousal (independent variable) was analyzed using general linear models and the exploratory analyses were studied with linear correlations and repeated covariance analyses. This study was approved by HCPA’s ethical committee. A total of 38 students with an average age of 13.84 (SD= 1.46) years were included in the study. Increased SSR was linked with oppositional behavior [Pillai’s Trace=0.234; F(2.33)=5.037; p=0.012; Xp 2 = 0.234] and girls showed higher levels of oppositional behavior [Pillai’s Trace=0.219; F(2.33)=4.637; p=0.017; Xp 2= .219]. However, this correlation is specific to headstrong/ hurtful dimensions [F(1.34)=7.802; p=0.009; Xp 2 0.187]. There was no link between arousal and age. The exploratory analyses showed that increased SSR is associated with several types of headstrong/hurtful behaviors related to bullying [Pillai’s Trace=0.487; F(3.29)=9.189; p<0.001; Xp 2=0.487] and only the first aversive stimulus was responsible for the difference between adolescents with high and low oppositional behavior scores [F(9.197)=2.548; p=0.008]. There were no differences between these groups in terms of the number of stimulinecessary for habituation. This is the first study to examine the psychophysiological aspects of oppositional behaviors in an adolescent community sample using SSR. The results confirm our hypothesis that sympathetic autonomic response can vary based on types of oppositional behavior. Despite our limitations, the results help validate the different dimensions of oppositionality and indicate that oppositional behaviors are modulated by both environmental and biological factors.

Titel: Omedveten arousal i butiksmiljön. Nyckelord: Arousal, omedveten arousal, servicescape, butiksmiljö, konsumtionsbeteende, GSR-armband, eyetracking, elektrodermal aktivitet. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vilka faktorer som framkallar omedveten arousal i en riktig butiksmiljö. Vidare vill vi undersöka om skillnader i kundrelaterade konsumtionsvariabler påverkar omedveten arousal. Metod: Studien kombinerar en kvantitativ och kvalitativ ansats där 60 respondenter deltog i studien. Data samlades in via två enkäter, GSR-armband och ett par eyetracking-glasögon. Bidrag: Studien har bidragit med en kategorisering av omedvetna arousalutslag baserat på vad respondenter reagerat på i butiken. Skillnader i kundrelaterade konsumtionsvariabler har identifierats i förhållande till omedveten arousal. Originalitet: Med hjälp av studiedesignen har data kunnat samlas in i en riktig butiksmiljö. Respondenterna har således kunnat handla som vanligt i en miljö med andra kunder, personal och fysiska faktorer i butiken. / Title: Unconscious arousal in a store environment. Key words: Arousal, unconscious arousal, servicescape, store environment, consumer behavior, GSR-wristband, eye tracking, electrodermal activity. Purpose: The purpose with this study is to examine what factors evoke unconscious arousal in a real store environment. We will also examine if there are any differences in customer related consumption variables which affect unconscious arousal. Method: The study combines a quantitative and a qualitative approach where 60 respondents participated in the study. Data was collected by two surveys, a GSR-wristband and a pair of eyetracking-glasses. Contributions: The study has contributed with a categorization of unconscious arousal peaks based on what the respondents reacted to in the store. Differences in customer related consumption variables have been identified in relation to unconscious arousal. Originality: The study design has allowed data to be collected in a real store environment. The respondents have been able to shop as usual in an environment with other customers, staff and physical factors in the store.

O comportamento opositor é frequente na infância e está associado a sintomas internalizantes e externalizantes, podendo causar prejuízos na adolescência e na vida adulta. Estudos recentes apontam que o comportamento opositor abrange três dimensões com comorbidades e valores preditivos particulares, como irritabilidade, oposição e ofensiva. Também sugerem que tanto a hiporresponsividade quanto a hiper-responsividade cutânea simpática estão associadas a algum comportamento agressivo e/ou antissocial. A essa responsividade dá-se o nome de arousal. A hipótese deste estudo é de que as diferentes dimensões do comportamento de oposição estão associadas a níveis aumentados de arousal. O objetivo do trabalho foi verificar a associação entre as dimensões do comportamento de oposição e os níveis de arousal em adolescentes. Além disso, pretendeu-se verificar a relação entre os comportamentos específicos, como agressão verbal, física ou social, e os níveis de arousal e a associação entre a trajetória e o número necessário de estímulo aversivo até a habituação com as diferentes dimensões de oposição. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com adolescentes de escolas públicas da área de abrangência do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA). Para avaliar o comportamento opositor e suas dimensões, utilizou-se a escala Youth Self Report. Para avaliar o comportamento agressivo, utilizou-se a versão brasileira modificada do Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. O arousal foi avaliado por meio da resposta cutânea simpática (RCS). Para investigar a RCS, aplicaram-se 10 estímulos aversivos nos adolescentes e mediuse a amplitude de cada resposta gerada. A associação entre comportamento de oposição (variável dependente) e arousal (variável independente) foi investigada por meio de um modelo geral linear, enquanto as análises exploratórias foram avaliadas por meio de correlação linear e análises repetidas de covariância. Este estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética do HCPA. Um total de 38 estudantes com média idade de 13,83 (DP=1,46) anos foram incluídos no estudo. A RCS aumentada esteve associada ao comportamento de oposição [Pillai’s Trace=0,234; F(2,33)=5,037; p=0,012; Xp 2=0,234], e as meninas apresentam maiores níveis de comportamento de oposição [Pillai’s Trace=0,219; F(2,33)=4,637; p=0,017; Xp 2=0,219]. Entretanto, tal associação foi específica para as dimensões de oposição e ofensiva [F(1,34)=7,802; p=0,009; Xp 2=0,187]. Não houve associação entre níveis de arousal e idade. As análises exploratórias revelaram que a RCS aumentada está associada a diversos tipos de comportamento de oposição e ofensivo relacionados ao comportamento agressivo [Pillai’s Trace=0,487; F(3,29)=9,189; p<0,001; Xp 2=0,487] e que apenas o primeiro estímulo aversivo foi responsável pela diferença entre adolescentes com níveis maiores e menores de comportamento opositor [F(9,197)=2,548; p=0,008]. Não se observou diferença significativa entre esses grupos e o número de estímulo até habituação. Este foi o primeiro estudo a investigar os aspectos psicofisiológicos de comportamento de oposição por meio da RCS em adolescentes. Os resultados confirmam a hipótese de que a resposta autonômica simpática pode variar de acordo com as dimensões de comportamento de oposição. Apesar das limitações do estudo, os achados auxiliam na validação das distintas dimensões do comportamento de oposição. / Oppositional behaviors during childhood are common, and are associated with symptoms of internalizing and externalizing. Oppositionality can negatively affect adolescence and adult life. Recent studies have shown that oppositionality encompasses three distinct dimensions with different predictive values of comorbidity: irritable, headstrong, and hurtful. Other studies suggest that both increased and reduced sympathetic skin response (SSR) are linked to antisocial and/or aggressive behavior. This response is called arousal. Our hypothesis is that the oppositionality dimensions are associated with increased levels of arousal. We aimed to examine the relationship between oppositional behavior dimensions and arousal levels in an adolescent sample. In addition, we studied the correlation between specific aggressive behavior, such as verbal, physical or social aggression and arousal levels. We also identified the link between the trajectory and number of aversive stimuli necessary for habituation to different oppositional dimensions. This is a cross-sectional study encompassing teenage students from public schools in the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) coverage area. Oppositionality and its dimensions were assessed with the Youth Self Report scale and aggressive behavior was evaluated with the Brazilian modified version of Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. Arousability was assessed through SSR at the neurology department at HCPA. To assess SSR, we delivered 10 aversive stimuli to adolescents and measured the amplitude of each SSR generated. The association between oppositionality (dependent variable) and arousal (independent variable) was analyzed using general linear models and the exploratory analyses were studied with linear correlations and repeated covariance analyses. This study was approved by HCPA’s ethical committee. A total of 38 students with an average age of 13.84 (SD= 1.46) years were included in the study. Increased SSR was linked with oppositional behavior [Pillai’s Trace=0.234; F(2.33)=5.037; p=0.012; Xp 2 = 0.234] and girls showed higher levels of oppositional behavior [Pillai’s Trace=0.219; F(2.33)=4.637; p=0.017; Xp 2= .219]. However, this correlation is specific to headstrong/ hurtful dimensions [F(1.34)=7.802; p=0.009; Xp 2 0.187]. There was no link between arousal and age. The exploratory analyses showed that increased SSR is associated with several types of headstrong/hurtful behaviors related to bullying [Pillai’s Trace=0.487; F(3.29)=9.189; p<0.001; Xp 2=0.487] and only the first aversive stimulus was responsible for the difference between adolescents with high and low oppositional behavior scores [F(9.197)=2.548; p=0.008]. There were no differences between these groups in terms of the number of stimulinecessary for habituation. This is the first study to examine the psychophysiological aspects of oppositional behaviors in an adolescent community sample using SSR. The results confirm our hypothesis that sympathetic autonomic response can vary based on types of oppositional behavior. Despite our limitations, the results help validate the different dimensions of oppositionality and indicate that oppositional behaviors are modulated by both environmental and biological factors.

La prise de perspective (PP) renvoie à la capacité de comprendre le point de vue psychologique d’autrui. Elle constitue une notion complexe, impliquant différents processus, comme la capacité de prendre conscience de soi et d’autrui, d’inhiber son point de vue, de passer d’un point de vue à un autre ou d’endosser la perspective d’autrui. Ces étapes mobilisent la conscience de soi (CS), la distinction soi-autrui (DSA) et la flexibilité cognitive (FC).Notre recherche vise à évaluer comment des déficits dans chacune de ces sphères pourraient sous-tendre une altération des capacités de PP. Pour ce faire, trois protocoles originaux sont utilisés : ils s’attachent à clarifier les liens entre la PP et les autres composantes empathiques à l’aide de mesures physiologiques, à évaluer les déficits des composantes évoquées dans la dépression sous-clinique et à tester l’effet de deux programmes d’entraînements (CF, PP) sur la symptomatologie dépressive.Les résultats montrent une implication de la PP comme processus transversal des réponses empathiques et son lien avec les composantes automatiques de l’empathie. Ils soutiennent l’existence d’un pattern de déficits en CS, DSA, FC et PP semblables à ceux mis en évidence dans les niveaux cliniques de dépression. Enfin, l’efficacité d’un entraînement à la CF sur les capacités de PP ajoute un argument au lien causal unissant les deux concepts. Nos résultats contribuent à mieux comprendre la dynamique commandant à une chaîne de déficits inter-reliés pour mieux prévenir la maladie chez les personnes à risques. / Perspective-taking (PT) refers to the ability to understand the psychological point of view of others. It is a complex notion involving the ability to become aware of oneself and others, to inhibit one's point of view, to move from one point of view to another and to adopt the perspective of others. These various stages mobilize self-consciousness (CS), self-other distinction (SOD) and cognitive flexibility (CF).Our research aims to evaluate how deficits in each of these spheres could underlie an alteration of perspective-taking abilities. To do so, it uses three original protocols aimed at clarifying the links between PT and the other empathic components by using physiological measures, evaluating the deficits of the processes mentioned in subclinical depression and to test the effect of two training programs (CF, PT) on depressive symptomatology.The results show PT involvement as a transversal process of empathic responses and its connection to the automatic components of empathy. They also support the existence of a pattern of deficits in CS, SOD, FC and PT similar to those found in clinical depression levels. Finally, the effectiveness of PT training on PT capabilities adds an argument to the causal link between these two concepts. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics driving a chain of interrelated deficits to better prevent the emergence of depression among people at risk.

Tato diplomová práce se zabývá metodami pro analýzu a klasifikaci spánku. Popisuje jakjednotlivé spánkové fáze a vzorce biosignálů v průběhu spánku, tak metody pro klasifi-kaci. Příznaky jsou extrahovány na dodaných biosignálech ECG, EDA a RIP. Na základětěchto příznaků jsou klasifikovány jednotlivé spánkové fáze s využitím klasifikátoru ná-hodný les. Parametry klasifikátoru jsou optimalizovány a následně jsou vyhodnocenydosažené výsledky. Pomocí metod pro redukci dimenzionality je soubor příznaků analy-zován a výsledky jsou porovnány s výsledky ze standardní klasifikace. Řešení pro vizuali-zaci jak samotných nezpracovaných signálů, tak extrahovaných příznaků je navrhnuto aimplementováno. Dosažené výsledky jsou porovnány s publikovanými metodami.

Cette thèse a été réalisée dans un cadre pluridisciplinaire alliant protocole expérimental, instrumentation dans des conditions de mesures in vivo, détection de ruptures associées à des changements d'états physiologiques et identification et prétraitement d'artefacts de mesures chez des coureurs de marathons. Nous avons considéré l'analyse de la variabilité du rythme cardiaque (VRC) et l'analyse de l'activité électrodermale (AED) pendant une course et lors des phases qui la précèdent et la suivent. La détection de ruptures de moyenne et de tendance est effectuée par la méthode Filtered Derivative with p-Value (FDpV) tout au long de cette thèse. La méthode FDpV est basée sur une analyse dynamique faisant appel à un modèle stationnaire par morceaux. Elle a permis en particulier d'introduire un indice de régulation cardiaque pour les coureurs. Un suivi des changements des états d'éveil et de motivation à travers l'AED par la détection de ruptures de la tendance pendant la course d'un semi-marathonien est également proposée. Ceci a permis de définir des signatures de début et de fin de course. Une attention particulière a été apportée à la composante tonique de l'AED reflétant le niveau d'activation affectif. Nous avons comparé trois méthodes d'extraction du niveau tonique en tenant compte des artefacts potentiels présents. Ce travail concerne des études de cas; il peut être étendu à une cohorte et englober plus de paramètres physiologiques (VO2, EEG,...). Ainsi, une classification des états d'éveil et de motivation peut être envisagée et représente des éléments significatifs de caractérisation des données physiologiques in vivo pour l'optimisation des performances sportives. / This thesis was carried out in a multidisciplinary approach that combines experimental protocol, instrumentation, in vivo measurements, physiological change detection instants and identification and preprocessing of measurement artefacts for marathon runners. We considered the analysis of the heart rate variability (HRV) and the electrodermal activity (EDA) recorded during a semi-marathon including pre and post competition periods. A study of the HRV and EDA change detection was carried based on the mean and the trend using the Filtered Derivative with pValue method (FDpV) throughout this thesis. This segmentation method is based on a dynamical approach using a piece-wise stationary model. As a result, itallowed to introduce an index of cardiac regulation for semi-marathon runners. Physiological state changes tracking of affective dimension i.e. "stress" and motivation via the EDA by change detection on its tonic component which reflects the EDA general trend throughout a semi-marathon was also proposed. This enabled us to characterize start and finish phases of a race which are key elements in any competition. A special attention was given to the tonic component of the EDA reflecting the overall level of affective activation. We compared three methods of tonic level extraction by taking into account the present potential artefacts. Thiswork focused on case studies; It can be generalized over a cohort and include more physiological parameters such that VO2 or EEG. Hence, a classification of stress states may also be considered and represent other significant features for characterizing in vivo physiological data for sport performance optimization.