The use of digital rheoplethysmography for the study of psychogenic and neurogenic factors in man.

The use of the RPG in the qualitative and quantitative study of the state of the intact digital vasculature of intact man is illustrated and emphasized. Rheoplethysmography is the only method for quantitatively recording continuously and simultaneously the volumes and rates of inflow, outflow and the differences between inflow and outflow and the rate of basal blood flow in the digits of intact man or in any organ or tissue that can be isolated in a plethysmographic cup. The effects of psychogenic and neurogenic factors on the peripheral circulation of man were studied with the RPG, and the results demonstrate how useful this method is for such studies of the fingertip.