November 1, 1994Psychophysiology
Autonomic cardiac control. III. Psychological stress and cardiac response in autonomic space as revealed by pharmacological blockades
Key result
Psychological stressors elicited an overall pattern of increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic control of the heart, with uncorrelated responses reflecting substantial individual differences.
Why the study?
How do psychological stressors affect autonomic cardiac control as revealed by pharmacological blockades?
Population
Subjects undergoing psychological stressors
Comparison
Psychological stressors evaluated using single… vs Orthostatic challenge / baseline
Design
Other
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
Highlights need for individualized autonomic assessment in stressed cardiac patients; extends models beyond reciprocal responses to physical challenges.
Key Points
- This study aims to analyze how psychological stress influences cardiac autonomic responses using pharmacological methods.
- Utilized quantitative analysis of single and double autonomic blockades.
- Employed noninvasive indices based on heart period variability and systolic time intervals.
- Investigated responses during tasks including speech stress, mental arithmetic, and reaction time.
- Increased sympathetic control and decreased parasympathetic control during stress tasks.
- Responses of the autonomic branches to stress were uncorrelated, showing individual differences.
- Noninvasive indices, like preejection period and respiratory sinus arrhythmia, aligned with pharmacological findings.
Structured PICO
How do psychological stressors affect autonomic cardiac control as revealed by pharmacological blockades?
P
Population
Subjects undergoing psychological stressors
I
Intervention
Psychological stressors (speech stress, mental arithmetic, and a reaction-time task) evaluated using single and double autonomic pharmacological blockades
C
Comparator
Orthostatic challenge / baseline
O
Outcome
Reactive autonomic control of the heart (sympathetic and parasympathetic control)surrogate
Psychological stress elicits uncorrelated sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiac responses with substantial individual differences, unlike the reciprocal response seen in orthostatic challenge.
Cite This Study
Berntson et al. (1994) studied Psychological stress. Pharmacological blockades (single and double) was evaluated on Reactive autonomic control of the heart. Psychological stressors elicited an overall pattern of increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic control of the heart, with uncorrelated responses reflecting substantial individual differences.