Exteroc is a method of investigation for Chronic Headache Disorder. This research work lies in the field of Clinical Psychology.

This research work was carried out The National Institute of Health, Columbus, OH, USA, with support from Academic Challenge Award from the State of Ohio. The supportive software application was designed and developed at Inforcom Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

This stand-alone application is user friendly and based on event driven approach. The self explaining data entry interfaces guide the user through few forms before giving the output data file as well as a graph. A configuration page is provided for various parameter setting as well as file format.

Exteroceptive suppressioon (ES) of temporalis muscle activity has received recent attention as a method of in vestigating central mechanisms in the pathogenesis of chronic headache disorders. Unfortunately, the resolution of conflicting findings has been hampered by the use of different assessment and scoring methodologies across laboratories, which has limited the direct comparison of findings across studies. A computer program was developed with the goal of providing an automated and reliable method of scoring ES responses. Procesing an ES response with this software provides both visual and quantitative information relating to various response parameters. Multiple levels of smoothing the raw waveform data are available, and the software offers scoring on the basis of multiple depth-of-suppression criteria. The program also generates values for a variety of ES parameters: latency, duration, area, maximum level of suppression with its corresponding time (msec), and baseline level of muscle activity. It is likely that a reliable and standardized scoring protocol would enhance comparability of ES data generated across different settings.

The software will read input data saved in standard ASCII format. The only restrictions are that data are collected with the use of established procedures (e.g., 250 msec of ASCII data sampled at 2 KHz, with stimulation occurring at 75 msec) and that EMG voltage values and associated recording times are stored in matched columns.

The software may be configured to process data from a variety of data collection systems. User-defined values are entered to (1) identify the location of voltage and time data in the ASCII file, (2) convert EMG voltage values into mictovolts (µV) for signal calibration, and (3) define the temporal search interval for identifying the location of ES response.



When a new data file is opened from within the computerized scoring program using the default settings, a graphical display of the ES profile is automatically generated in the following manner: (1) An average prestimulation baseline EMG value is calculated from the 100 EMG values (µV) that comprise the 50-msec interval immediately preceding electrical stimulations; (2) all EMG values collected during the entire 250 msec of recording (75 msec prestimulation, 175 msec poststimulation) are then converted into a percentage of the prestimulation baseline EMG calculated in Step 1; and (3) these percentage values are then graphed across time (250 msec).



The data generated by both automatic and manual scoring methods may be copied onto a summary table for subsequent storage and printing. Results may be saved and printed in graphic, tabular, and ASCII formats. Data saved in ASCII format may be directly imported into other programs for subsequent statistical analysis.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

This research work as well as the software Application were published in the Medical Journal - -"Behavior Research Methods, Instruments and Computers"

Request for reprints or copies of the programme should be sent to D. J. French, Department de Psychology, University de Moncton, NB, E1A 3E9, Cananda (email: frenchdo@umoncton.ca)