PREAMBLEThe charge to the Efficacy Template Task Force requires the development of a template that will assist the Efficacy and Practice Guideline Panels in their review of the literature related to the clinical efficacy of psychophysiological interventions. The Panels will be required to use accepted scientific and clinical standards for determining whether a beneficial effect of treatment can be demonstrated. This document is intended as the template that will serve as a guideline for the Panels' task. The ultimate goal is that of developing meaningful efficacy databases and practice guidelines for such interventions.This task force was created as a collaborative effort by two professional societies (Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback or AAPB; Society for Neuronal Regulation or SNR) to assist in providing a systematic framework for comprehensiveness and consistency in that endeavor. The guidelines that eventuate will, to the best extent

Silk fibroin film surfaces were PEGylated by reaction with cyanuric chloride-activated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Reactions with different concentrations of activated PEG generated films with PEG graft densities from 0.02 to 0.4 mg per square cm of silk fibroin. Increased PEGylation resulted in increased hydrophilicity as analyzed by contact angle, and a smoother morphology based on scanning electron microscopy. Increased PEGylation decreased human IgG adsorption and decreased the attachment and proliferation of human fibroblasts over two weeks. Increased concentration of PEG on the silk fibroin surfaces also decreased the proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells and inhibited human platelet attachment. Surface PEGylated silk fibroin films could be useful antiadhesion and antithrombotic materials for biomedical applications when considered along with the unique mechanical and tailorable degradation profiles of silk fibroin.

An essential function of both the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) and the Society for Neuronal Regulation (SNR) is the systematic evaluation of psychophysiological interventions that have been developed for the treatment of medical and psychiatric disorders. In order to address scientific concerns regarding the efficacy of specific clinical applications of biofeedback, these two societies formed and Efficacy Task Force. The process to be used in the assessment of treatment efficacy, specificity and clinical utility is presented in the form of a template that will serve as the foundation for a series of scientific reviews and practice guidlines to be published by both societies.

A device that communicates pictorial information through tactual stimulation of the skin was used in a study with 16 adults. The device converts an optical TV image into a vibratory display on S's back. The study compared the effects on pattern recognition of two methods of producing stimulus change in the tactual input. Geometric forms and block letters were presented by horizontally panning the TV camera across static figures or by drawing the figures with a moving dot in the camera's field. The drawing procedure produced fewer recognition errors with both types of figures.

The present study investigated the effect of vibrotactile stimulation on relaxation as measured by EMG recording. Forty-eight subjects from three age groups were randomly divided into 8 experimental groups: (1) simultaneous footrest vibration and back vibration (A1C1); (2) simultaneous footrest vibration and back roller (A1C2); (3) simultaneous footrest vibration, back vibration and back roller (A1C3); (4) footrest vibration alone (A1C4): (5) back vibration alone (A2C1); (6) back roller alone (A2C2); (7) simultaneous back vibration and back roller (A2C3); and (8) control group (no vibration/stimulation) (A2C4). The three major variables studied were footrest vibration (A1 and A2), pre- and post-EMG measures (B1 and B2), and back vibration (C1C2C3C4). Results showed that footrest vibration had a significant effect on relaxation. Other conditions (except the control) produced a decrease in EMG levels, but did not reach significance. Pre- and postmeasures by experimental conditions were also significantly different. Application of vibration as an aid in relaxation is discussed.