Questions tagged [physiology]
For questions about the interaction of the brain/mind with function and structure of the rest of the body. If your question is specifically about the physiology of the central (or peripheral) nervous system then use the tag neurobiology.
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Question on this forum [migrated]
Can dream interpretations question be asked in this community? Along with dream meanings and how they could relate to your life? Sorry is this is off topic.
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3answers
2k views
What keeps the cerebrospinal fluid circulating? Is it pumped by something?
What keeps the cerebrospinal fluid circulating? Is it pumped by something?
This picture from wikipedia seems to indicate that it pulsates as though it is pumped:
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0answers
10 views
What provides regular neuron spikes for internal urethral sphincter to regularly reclench?
This "Scishow" video is about internal and external anal sphincters, its length is just 3:51. The speaker, Hank Green, says:
The muscle that keeps things from leaking out of your body, your ...
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0answers
26 views
What is the medullary bulb transition?
Does "medullary bulb transition" make sense in neuroanatomy internattionally or is it a Brazilian invention and there is no term like that in English? What is then the difference of the &...
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1answer
237 views
Do bodily manifestations (e.g. jerking) and intense euphoric sensations (e.g. “heat”, “electricity”) always co-occur in spiritual experiences?
After analyzing multiple reports of spiritual experiences, I've identified two general categories:
Bodily manifestations: shaking, jerking, trembling, contorting, etc. (see this related question for ...
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1answer
46 views
Is there a way that an infection could target a specific area of the brain?
My question is in regards to a fungal infection, but I am open to learning about viral or bacterial infections. That being said, is it possible that a fungus/virus/etc could target a specific area of ...
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0answers
37 views
EDA explorer - artifact detection vs artifact correction
my question is related to this post -> Open-source software for analyzing Electrodermal activity
The eda explorer, especially the online version, is quite nice and handy. However, it does not provide ...
8
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2answers
7k views
Is Maslow's hierarchy of needs really accurate at labeling sex as a physiological “need”?
Is Maslow's hierarchy of needs really accurate at labeling sex as a physiological "need"? If so, would that mean that single/celibate people cannot live self-actualized lives unless they have some ...
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1answer
29 views
Percent change of a biophysical signal
To calculate percent change the formula is: $\frac{Amount \, ofchanges} {Original \, amount}100=\frac{NewāOld}{Old}100$
because we want to see how it changes compared to where it was before, now if ...
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3answers
3k views
Is there a correlation between facial features and personality?
Background: From block buster movies, to Snow White and the Seven Dwarf's, characters with certain personality and mental traits are portrayed looking a certain way. For example, the clumsy one has ...
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1answer
86 views
Can signals from the prefrontal cortex alone trigger a readiness potential in the pre-supplementary motor area?
Background
In Haggard, Patrick. "Human volition: towards a neuroscience of will." Nature Reviews Neuroscience 9.12 (2008): 934., the author states in the caption of Figure 1 (pg. 4):
The ...
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2answers
1k views
Heart rate monitor for scientific study
I want to measure heart rate as part of a controlled experiment I am setting up. I've been trying to find information on which heart rate monitor to buy, but it's unclear to me which heart rate ...
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Does anyone have R code for analyzing skin conductance data?
Similar question here Open-source software for analyzing Electrodermal activity
But with no R code answers provided, and the online EDA explorer appears to be unavailable now.
I am looking for code ...
3
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1answer
2k views
What's the difference between the neuroendocrine system vs endocrine system?
No one in the Biology site seems to be answering this, so I thought I'd post it here as a last resort. I would really appreciate if you guys can take a look at it.
This is what I have understood so ...
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1answer
31 views
Would non-neural physiological insights be considered to be in the field of neuroscience?
For example, would e.g. SCR (skin conductance response) or hormone level be considered to be "neuroscientific measures" according to general definition of neuroscience?
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1answer
454 views
Why pale when we fear and red when we are angry
I find it hard to explain why we turn pale when we fear but red when we are angry. In both emotions adrenaline is released which if I am not mistaken cause vasoconstriction in vessels going to the ...
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1answer
116 views
Are reaction time and memory physiological measure or behavioral observation?
I think that the choice made by a subject in a choice task should be behavioral observation. But I am not sure about reaction time and memory, which is more about ability instead of intention.
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1answer
230 views
How is the term “physiological measurement” defined?
Does the measurement have to be subconscious?
Can measurement such as eye-tracking be counted as physiological measurement? (I thought it is because of its relatively subconscious nature until I saw ...
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2answers
1k views
Skin conductance responses to emotional stimuli
The skin conductance response (SCR) is said that cannot be reduced to one specific stimulus (Boucsein, 2012). Does this mean that if the participant is presented with stimuli of different emotional ...
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1answer
4k views
Are there recent theories on physiognomy?
What are recent theories on the relation between personality and facial or body shape, and are there studies to support them?
See Wikipedia on physiognomy and somatotypes & constitutional ...
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1answer
28 views
Does anybody know a source having multi-electrode (several channels) recorded data of multiple Neurons (I prefer real data not artificial)?
I mean recorded data of multiple Neurons with multi-electrode. I need this data as the input for my experiment.
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1answer
16k views
Why does a stuffed up nose clear up momentarily when the person having it is startled or has an orgasm?
I have experienced this phenomena many, many times and I'm sure it's not only me. I guess the sudden rise in arousal opens up the nostrils in a kind of fight or flight response, but I'm interested in ...
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2answers
136 views
Can you get sad by sniffing onions, just like you can get happy by forcing yourself to smile?
I've read about a study where they found that people who were forced to keep a smile-like face were reportedly happier than those who were forced to stay in a frown-like a face. Similarly, could ...
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1answer
152 views
Why does the tempo tend to get faster?
Suppose you're learning to sing or play an instrument, and you'd start playing some piece of music. If you are not experienced enough, the tempo would be unstable, usually getting faster until the end....
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35 views
Is there any negative social or psychological implication of the current āslimeā preoccupation of teenagers (mostly girls)? [closed]
This may not be the right place for this question. If you think it belongs on another forum, please point me there.
My daughter has been into the āslimeā craze for the past two years or so (she is ...
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1answer
269 views
How does emotional stress cause skeletal muscle rigidity?
It is believed that when we are under stress our skeletal muscles tense up. However I am unable to explain why.Emotional stress is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system which has effects only ...
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1answer
166 views
Is a more specific breathing technique better than just slow, deep breathing for calming oneself?
We're told by a Big Think Mind Hack video (carried by some tabloids) that 1:2 inhale:exhale breathing technique is better than just slow, deep breathing for calming yourself. Is there systematic ...
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1answer
259 views
What causes muscle stiffness contraction and tension during stress
What causes muscle contraction in times of stress? People say it's caused because of fight or flight response is activated, but this not exact. I am looking to find the direct cause, i.e is it a ...
3
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1answer
184 views
Physiologically speaking is anxiety and adrenaline the same?
I am wondering from a physiological perspective what is anxiety. From my experience anxiety feels like muscle tension and lots of suppressed energy. For what I know the only thing that can make the ...
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0answers
187 views
Why does tactile stimulation such as massage sometimes trigger repressed memories or emotions?
I have anecdotal evidence from multiple massage therapists claiming that they have triggered some form of mental / emotional response in a patient, due to physical stimulation (one case citing a ...
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2answers
17k views
Does anxiety produce adrenaline or does adrenaline make the person anxious?
Its obvious that both are related(adrenaline and anxiety) but which causes which?
What (I think) I know:
Anxiety accelerates the hearth rhythm due to the feeling of fear. It makes the body believe ...
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0answers
2k views
Can subliminal affirmations really use the subconscious mind to naturally reshape your nose? [closed]
My reflexive response to this is no, however, I have noticed two different phenomenon which begs to re-assess.
(Please see and read video description and some comments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
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0answers
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Is there any research which compares the bond between biological siblings vs. non-biological siblings or half-siblings? [closed]
A research like: āof 100 families that we studied we found: biological siblings had stronger/weaker bond vs. half-siblings vs non-biological and 40 years later their relationship was found stronger/...
4
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1answer
522 views
Which personality traits are proved to correlate with any facial features?
I pretty certain I have read somewhere about certain personality traits that correlate with certain facial features, but I can't remember just what or where I read. I think the personality traits may ...
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2answers
455 views
Does taking a deep breath reduce the experience of stress and negative emotions?
Sometimes when I have negative feelings, it seems that a deep breath resets these feelings. Does that really happen? Is there any research on the effect of taking a deep breath on reducing the ...
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0answers
677 views
What happens in the brain during mid-life crisis?
I was just told by an elder that midlife crisis occurs during an adult stage and it is a time whereby an adult starts having several thoughts concerning his/her life. After my research, I found out ...
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1answer
249 views
Do animals that sleep during the day have a different sleep architecture than those who sleep at night?
A typical hypnogram, delineating the sleep architecture for a (human) mammal looks like
A distinct distribution of non-REM and REM sleep can be observed.
Is this pattern of sleep cycles particular ...
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0answers
70 views
Is there a relationship between the amount of time spent awake/asleep, and interstitial waste removal in the brain?
With regard to the glymphatic system, is here a relationship between:
The amount of time spent awake and the amount of interstitial waste accumulated in the brain?
The amount of time spent asleep and ...
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0answers
35 views
Psychophysiological indicators of relationship/collaboration/alignment
I'm working on a question about whether psychophysiological data--EDA, EEG, pupillometry, HRV/IBI, etc--can indicate within-group (non-romantic!) relationships or collaboration. My own background is ...
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1answer
213 views
What regulates the strength of motor signals?
I've seen cognitive and robot models where the input signals from the sensors are directly used as the signal for outgoing motor control.
This doesn't make much sense, because obviously we're able ...
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0answers
60 views
Do we know what is happening inside the brain when a person is hit in the head?
For the purposes of this question, I will use the example of a legally sanctioned athletic contest (i.e., a boxing match), rather than criminal activity or accidents, but the question certainly ...
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0answers
36 views
Is there a disorder that causes one to feel heat from an inanimate object? [closed]
We just met a woman that feels heat (literally, hot enough for her to say she was burned) from inanimate objects. She says it is mainly the floors and chairs in her home, and she is unable to walk in ...
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5answers
228k views
Why do people laugh in serious situations?
I've seen people (including myself) that laugh for no apparent reason in really serious situations, such as in an argument or when receiving bad news. Although the other party is clearly very upset, ...
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1answer
606 views
Why is it easier to fall asleep in the dark?
I'm curious if there is any neurological mechanism that explains why falling asleep is easier in the dark.
I recognize that this isn't true universally -- a phobia of darkness might make it easier to ...
9
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1answer
243 views
What is it about the nature of slow-wave sleep that makes it difficult to awaken the sleeper?
In humans, delta wave sleep ("slow wave" sleep, stages III and IV by AASM criteria) is more common in children and becomes only a small percentage of total sleep time in adults.
Cortical EEG waves ...
12
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1answer
208 views
What is the mechanism behind unihemispheric sleep in animals?
It is known that dolphins have the ability to sleep with only one half of their brain at a time.
According to this popular science source:
Dolphins sleep by resting one half of their brain at a ...
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0answers
161 views
Why can some people not cry on demand? [closed]
Why is it, when we need to cry, it sometimes doesn't work?
Is there any psychology explanation for this?
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0answers
103 views
Physiological mapping of frustration
What physiological changes are seen in the brain when a person is experiencing frustration? What effects do these changes have on learning?
Optional background:
I'm trying to figure out an ...
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0answers
153 views
What happens inside our body, when we experience betrayal and infidelity?
I guess many of us have experienced it. The moment that you understand that "the person you love, in whom you've trusted, is now with someone else, enjoying every moment with him/her".
It's so ...
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2answers
392 views
Does the heart play a role in the occurrence of emotions?
It is a common belief that the heart is somehow related to emotions. When we are nervous,our heartbeat is effected (increased heart rate) and when we are happy, another pattern in heart function can ...
