Patterns of Fat Mobilization in Field-dependent and Field-independent Subjects.

Ten field-dependent and 10 field-independent Ss received an I.V. injection of insulin or saline. Free fatty acid (FFA), blood glucose, and urinary catecholamines were determined regularly. FFA levels were higher in the field-dependent controls with saline than in field-independent Ss. Fat mobilization patterns of field-dependent Ss showed greater variability both after insulin and saline, and their veins were significantly more prone to spasm. FFA levels dropped more abruptly and to a narrower range after insulin in the field-independent group. There were no significant differences in the catecholamine and blood glucose findings.