Sex Differences in Autonomic Responses to Electric Shock

ABSTRACT A review of the literature on sexual differences in autonomic responses in electric shock revealed little information as to whether such difference.1; exist. Eighteen male and 18 females were given a rest period of 15 ruin, submitted to 1 min of painful electric stimulation, then given a second 15 min rest period. Comparison were made of autonomic responses of heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure just prior m. during, immediately after the stimulation, and at the end of the second resting period (blood pressure during stimulation being omitted). Results were analyzed by computerized multiple analysis of variance using trend analysis of repeated measures. Men were found to respond to the shock with significant changes in systolic blood pressure while women responded with significant respiration changes. Although present evidence is not sufficient to explain the psycho physiological reasons for the differences found in this study, it is suggested that in view of the above sex differences, cultural demands may be a contributing factor to the high incidence of heart disease in men of certain age groups in out society.