Autonomic Markers of Visual Awareness

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dc.contributor.advisorSheth, Bhavin R.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberOgmen, Haluk
dc.contributor.committeeMemberContreras-Vidal, Jose L.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberFrancis, David J.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberStevenson, Scott B.
dc.creatorLi, Ziyang 1987-
dc.date.accessioned2016-02-21T00:06:05Z
dc.date.available2016-02-21T00:06:05Z
dc.date.createdDecember 2013
dc.date.issued2013-12
dc.date.updated2016-02-21T00:06:05Z
dc.description.abstractThe mind–body problem in philosophy examines the relationship between mind and matter, and in particular, the relationship between consciousness and the brain. In order to provide a scientific footing to this centuries old philosophical problem, an investigation into the interaction between consciousness and the autonomic nervous system, which controls the internal viscera, is required. However, this issue has received scant attention to date. Here, I investigate the response of the autonomic system and its sympathetic and parasympathetic components, to visual awareness using classical paradigms of binocular rivalry and visual detection, using a combination of electrocardiography (ECG), impedance cardiography (ICG) and pupillometry to examine cardiac autonomic functions, namely heart rate, the high-frequency component of heart rate variability (HRV), pre-ejection period (PEP) and change in pupil area. My studies reveal that the parasympathetic component dominates the autonomic response to visual awareness; physical alternation of stimuli has effects on the autonomic activation that go above and beyond alternations in percept; and uncertainty of subjective judgment drives the dynamics of autonomic response. The present studies, from the autonomic pathway, demonstrate that “mind affects body in action”, which leads to a more integrative view of sensory awareness and suggests the involvement of structures in the nervous system above and beyond the cortex.
dc.description.departmentElectrical and Computer Engineering, Department of
dc.format.digitalOriginborn digital
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10657/1217
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).
dc.subjectVisual awareness
dc.subjectAutonomic nervous system
dc.subjectVisual detection
dc.subjectBinocular rivalry
dc.subjectHeart rate
dc.subjectHeart rate variability
dc.subjectPre-ejection period
dc.subjectPupil
dc.titleAutonomic Markers of Visual Awareness
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.genreThesis
thesis.degree.collegeCullen College of Engineering
thesis.degree.departmentElectrical and Computer Engineering, Department of
thesis.degree.disciplineElectrical Engineering
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Houston
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy

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