Human Physiology

Investigate how heart rate and finger pulse change after different exercise regimes. Study the ECG trace and the electrical signals of the heart. Determine the factors that control heart rate and blood flow to tissues before, during and after exercise.

Investigate the effects of the diving response on heart rate and peripheral circulation in humans during simulated dives using ADInstruments' Finger Pulse Transducer, Sphygmomanometer and Respiratory Belt. Compare the physiological differences between breath-holding and diving.

Replicate Pavlov's famous classical conditioning experiments in humans. Find out how skin conductance, heart rate and respiratory rate can be altered using the principles of classical conditioning.

Learn how to measure skin conductance. Understand how conductance, respiratory rate, heart rate, and skin temperature change in response to stress. Use this information to complete a polygraph (lie detection test) and correctly interpret the results.

Record EMG during voluntary muscle contractions and investigate how contractile force changes with increasing demand. Examine the activity of antagonist muscles, see the phenomenon of coactivation and calculate nerve conduction velocity.

Record finger pulse and use it to produce a tachogram. Learn about spectral analysis and determine the frequency components using Spectrum in LabChart.

Learn techniques behind spirometry and gas analysis in order to record respiratory variables and determine metabolic parameters. Become familiar with ADInstruments' Exercise Physiology Kit and LabChart Add-Ons for Metabolism and Spirometry.

Become familiar with techniques behind spirometry, gas analysis and electrocardiography (ECG). Record and calculate respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic parameters. Learn about ADInstruments' Exercise Physiology System and LabChart Add-Ons designed for exercise physiology.

Become familiar with the basic psychophysiological measurements of skin conductance, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and electromyography. Combine these skills in the performance of a simple psychophysiology experiment.

Record and measure muscular twitch responses to nerve stimulation and observe recruitment as stimulus strength increases. Test the effect of stimulus timing on muscle contraction. Measure the decline in maximal force during a sustained contraction and examine muscle fatigue.

Discover the responses of reflexes and reaction times to a variety of stimuli. Elicit and quantify a knee jerk reaction, trigger the pupillary light reflex and a withdrawal reflex, and measure reaction time in reponse to a visual cue under varying conditions.

Examine respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) during normal respiration and forced breathing.

Use a flash stimulus and pattern reversal to generate and record brain activity in the occipital lobe.