The effect of the aroma of indole on the self-stimulatory behavior of individuals with profound mental retardation
Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to examine the effect of olfactory stimulation on the hand-mouthing behavior of four individual with profound mental retardation and cerebral palsy. Several variables were used to measure hand-mouthing behavior. The variables of emission of the target behavior were: (a) total time, (b) number of bouts and (c) duration of bouts. The variables of omission were: (d) latency between the bouts and (e) latency to the first bout. The total time variable and the latency between the bouts variable were the most informative measured used in this study. The results indicated that the aroma of indole, an aromatic amino acid, was effect in decreasing hand-mouthing behavior in two of the four participants. The container that was used to administer the aroma of indole was effect in decreasing hand-mouthing for one of the individuals that did not respond to the aroma of indole. The fourth participant demonstrated random variability in the target behavior.
Subject Area
Behavioral psychology|Experimental psychology|Psychology
Recommended Citation
D'Alessio-Baez, Esterina, "The effect of the aroma of indole on the self-stimulatory behavior of individuals with profound mental retardation" (2001). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI9999820.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI9999820
