Abstract
Offers update on project whose object is to develop ways to objectively and reliably evalueate "human responses to cigarettes, smoke constituents and tobacco flavorants." Reports on the cognitive nasal event-related potentials study, noting that work on auditory event-related potentials confirmed that the "inter-stimulus interval..is a critical variable in cognitive-type experiments," but in order to accomplish further work, the inter-stimulus-intervals (ISI) would have to be shortened. Discusses how technical problems and limitations have been overcome in relation to this work. Includes plans for future cognitive NERP experiments and pilot experiments "in order to determine basic parameters necessary for the recording of cognitive NERPS."
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PROJUT NU1+IFIEIR : 1'620~ ~
PROJECT TIT.LE: Electrophysiologfical Studies.
PRpJEr'T LEADER: F. P.: Gullotta
WRITTEN 8'Y ; I'. Wannamaker
PERIOD COVERED: September, 1987
I. N-%SA'L EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS (NERIPs)
A. Objective: To deveUop methods by whi'ch to objectively, and reliably
evaluate human responses to cigarettes, smoke constituents and
tobacco ftavorants.
E. Results:
..
1. Cognitivs!NERP Study
Previous work iin thi's laboratory has shown that it.may be
possibile to employ a cognitive NERP paradigmito objectively
differentiate among flavorants.li Subsequent work on auditory
event-related!potentials confirmed that the inter-stiimulus-
interval (ISL) is a criticall variable in 4o nitive-type experii-
ments2' and, in, order to continue thiis type of work, the I'SIs
would have to be shortened. Previ'ous tecfini'cal L'i'mitati'ons in
tois. area have been overcome wi'thi the hellp of, an A/D converter.
The current data base structure is now being circumvented by
entering data into a separate computer in an entirely unpro-
cessed manner and'allowing processing of these data to our
speci'fications after theexperiment has been compteted. Conse-
quently, it is now possible to shorten the ISjs within ranges,
that wfll be suitabLe for these type of experiments.
2. Other Work
The annual report has been completed and submi'tted for approval..
Optimat cleaning methods for~materials whichimight be employed
in the smoke delivery system, to be designed by Developmental
Engineering are being investigated. Work thus far has been
limite-d to tef'lon tubing; however, studies usi'ng, gLass and
staintess steel wilt also Le conducted.
C., Plans: With helpifrom the Computer Applications Division, develop
addi'tional programming for storing of'unstrutitured data into the EPA
database and allowing evaLuation of these data with the waveform
analysis program6
Determine the appropriate concommitanit psychcphysicaU task for
cognitive~NERP experiments. With assistance fr=Developmental
Enqineering and' the Computer A~ppl'ieatiion Division develop a Nrog~ram
which will allow gathering of these psychophysical data under the
new IS! conditions and storing~them with~their respective waveforms.
8+egin~ pi Lot experiments in ordeir to determine basic parameters
necessary for the recording, of, cogni ti'velNERPs.
D. References:
20oo7a1bsz
1i. Gutlotta F. P.; Hayes, C.S':.: Wannamaker, I. Annual Report 85-
131, 1985, Juily 15, pp. 17-29'.
Guillotta, F. P.; Hayes, C.S'.: Warnndmaker, I. Annual Report 86-
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.
139, 1986, July 18, pp. 2' - 15.
