Comment: Looking for Affective Meaning in “Multiple Arousal” Theory: A Comment to Picard, Fedor, and Ayzenberg

Mendes, Wendy Berry

doi:10.1177/1754073914565521

Cited by 6 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The suggested “multiple arousal theory” raised considerable interest and resulted in several commentaries followed by authors’ response (Critchley and Nagai, 2015; Mendes, 2016; Norman, 2016; Picard et al, 2016; Richter, 2016; Sabatinelli, 2016). While these commentaries were in general positive toward the concept of multiple arousal theory, the need for more systematic research including testable and falsifiable predictions has been voiced (Richter, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since scientific definitions of arousal are multiple, contradictory, and fuzzy (Mendes, 2016), we used as a starting point of this study the retrospectively developed interpretation suggested by Picard et al (2016). We interpreted Picard’s term «high-stake» as corresponding to the psychological term «salience» and interpreted the term «threat» as resembling an intensively negative, possible, but yet uncertain anticipated future event.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An Investigation on Bilateral Asymmetry in Electrodermal Activity

Bjørhei

Pedersen

Saeed

et al. 2019

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

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The Multiple Arousal Theory ( Picard et al., 2016 ) was proposed to explain retrospective observations of bilateral differences in electrodermal activities occurring in threat-related high-stake situations. The theory proposes different cortical and subcortical structures to be involved in the processing of various facets of emotional states. Systematic investigations of this effect are still scarce. This study tested the prediction of bilateral electrodermal effects in a controlled laboratory environment where electrodermal activity (EDA) was recorded bilaterally during normal activity and two stress-tasks in 25 healthy volunteers. A visual search stress task with a performance-related staircase algorithm was used, ensuring intersubjectively comparable stress levels across individuals. After completion of the task, a sense of ownership of an attractive price was created and loss aversion introduced to create a high-stake situation. Confirmation of the theory should satisfy the hypothesis of a bilateral difference in EDA between the dominant and non-dominant hand, which is larger during high-stake stressors than during low-stake stressors. The bilateral difference was quantified and compared statistically between the two stress-tasks, revealing no significant difference between them nor any significant difference between the stress tasks and the period of normal activity. Subgroup analysis of only the participants with maximum self-rating of their desire to win the price ( n = 7) revealed neither any significant difference between the two tasks nor between the stress-tasks and the period of normal activity. Although the theory was not confirmed by this study, eight cases suggestive of bilateral difference within the recordings were identified and are presented. Because the study is limited in using one of several possible operationalizations of the phenomenon, it is not possible to draw a general conclusion on the theory. Nevertheless, the study might contribute to a better understanding and encourage systematic review and hypothesis development regarding this new theory. Possible explanations and suggestions for future pathways to systematically investigate the Multiple Arousal Theory are discussed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Investigation on Bilateral Asymmetry in Electrodermal Activity

Bjørhei

Pedersen

Saeed

et al. 2019

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

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“…We may also predict that emotional states that activate the right (or triggering) side are potentially more dangerous in an at-risk patient than states that do not activate this side. As Mendes (2016) points out, it may be valuable to examine the connections between our findings and those of others who have differentiated benign from malignant arousal. Sabatinelli (2016) provides some careful methodological recommendations to strengthen the multiple arousal theory.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…While arousal has been operationalized as physiological changes, selfreport items, brain activity measures, and more, none of these fully defines it. As Mendes (2016) points out, it has a long history of poor definition. Fortunately, a lack of precision in definition does not mean we cannot make systematic explanations (or "theory") rooted in factual observations.…”

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confidence: 99%

Response to Commentaries on “Multiple Arousal Theory and Daily-Life Electrodermal Activity Asymmetry”

2015

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“…Physiological arousal is simply defined as reflecting a continuum of states of alertness across the sleep-wake cycle (Brazelton, 1973;Barnard, 1999;Oken et al, 2006). It is also more elegantly described as a property distributed across autonomic, sensory, emotional, and motor domains (Pfaff and Banavar, 2007;Mendes, 2016). This latter definition affords a multi-dimensional, non-linear approach to integrating concepts of arousal and sensory responsivity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diverse Autonomic Nervous System Stress Response Patterns in Childhood Sensory Modulation

Christensen

Wild

Kenzie

et al. 2020

Front. Integr. Neurosci.

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The specific role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in emotional and behavioral regulation-particularly in relation to automatic processes-has gained increased attention in the sensory modulation literature. This mini-review article summarizes current knowledge about the role of the ANS in sensory modulation, with a focus on the integrated functions of the ANS and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and their measurement. Research from the past decade illustrates that sympathetic and parasympathetic interactions are more complex than previously assumed. Patterns of ANS activation vary across individuals, with distinct physiological response profiles influencing the reactivity underlying automatic behavioral responses. This review article advances a deeper understanding of stress and the complex stress patterns within the ANS and HPA axis that contribute to allostatic load (AL). We argue that using multiple physiological measurements to capture individual ANS response variation is critical for effectively treating children with sensory modulation disorder (SMD) and sensory differences. We consider the relative contributions of automatic vs. deliberately controlled processes across large-scale neural networks in the development of sensorimotor function and their associated links with arousal patterns and sensory over-and under-responsivity.

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Comment: Looking for Affective Meaning in “Multiple Arousal” Theory: A Comment to Picard, Fedor, and Ayzenberg

Cited by 6 publications

References 12 publications

An Investigation on Bilateral Asymmetry in Electrodermal Activity

An Investigation on Bilateral Asymmetry in Electrodermal Activity

Response to Commentaries on “Multiple Arousal Theory and Daily-Life Electrodermal Activity Asymmetry”

Diverse Autonomic Nervous System Stress Response Patterns in Childhood Sensory Modulation

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