Alexithymia and psychophysiological reactivity to emotional arousal stimuli

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  • Baba Takanobu
    Graduate School of Psychology, Faculty of Letters, Doshisha University
  • Sato Suguru
    Department of Psychology, Faculty of Letters, Doshisha University
  • Monchi Rie
    Human System Department, Ecology and Energy System Research Center, Technology R & D Headquarters, SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
  • Suzuki Naoto
    Department of Psychology, Faculty of Letters, Doshisha University

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Other Title
  • 感情喚起刺激に対するアレキシサイミアの精神生理学的反応
  • カンジョウ カンキ シゲキ ニ タイスル アレキシサイミア ノ セイシン セイリガクテキ ハンノウ

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We examined the psychophysiological reactions of alexithymic participants to emotion-provoking slides. Alexithymia was assessed using the TAS-26. Participants were 25 undergraduate students, who were divided into an alexithymic group (N=12) and a non-alexithymic group (N=13) according to TAS-26 scores. For 30 seconds, participants viewed slides designed to provoke positive or negative emotions, while their facial EMG (zygomatic major and corrugator supercilii), HR, SBP and DBP were recorded. Participants' subjective feelings were assessed using a checklist. Results indicated that the alexithymic group had low reactivity in corrugator supercilii muscle, as well as low subjective appraisal of the displeasure resulting from slides provoking negative emotions. The alexithymic group showed high SBP reactivity and high corrugator supercilii muscle reactivity during the baseline session. The significance of these characteristics are discussed in terms of emotional information processing and the situational stress response.

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