Key result
Fear-eliciting films decreased cardiac output and increased total peripheral resistance, whereas anger-eliciting films increased cardiac output, demonstrating differential physiological responses.
Why the study?
Do different emotion-eliciting film sequences (anger vs. fear) elicit differential patterns of cardiovascular and hemodynamic responses in healthy subjects?
RCT (n=32)
Randomized
Do different emotion-eliciting film sequences (anger vs. fear) elicit differential patterns of cardiovascular and hemodynamic responses in healthy subjects?
Discrete emotions such as fear and anger elicit distinct and differential patterns of physiological cardiovascular responses in healthy subjects.
Differential hemodynamic responses to fear versus anger warrant affective context in clinical assessments; extends RCT evidence for emotion-specific autonomic patterns.
Cardiodynamic and hemodynamic reactions to emotion-eliciting film sequences were investigated. Thirty-two healthy subjects (12 women, 20 men) were randomly assigned to one of two groups. In the first group, anger was induced using selected scenes of the film "Ragtime." In the second group, scenes of the film "The Shining" were chosen to elicit fear. A documentary film was used as a baseline stimulus in both groups. EKG, impedance cardiography, and blood pressure were continuously monitored. The two emotional conditions elicited significant differential changes in subjective ratings and cardiovascular indices. Fear was associated with decreased cardiac output, increased total peripheral resistance, and a reduction in stroke volume and myocardial contractility. Anger was associated with an increase of cardiac output and small changes in total peripheral resistance. These results support the hypothesis that discrete emotions such as fear and anger elicit differential patterns of physiological responses.
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Montoya et al. (2005) conducted an RCT in Healthy (n=32). Emotion-eliciting film sequences (anger or fear) vs. Documentary film (baseline) was evaluated on Cardiovascular and hemodynamic changes (cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, stroke volume, myocardial contractility). Fear-eliciting films decreased cardiac output and increased total peripheral resistance, whereas anger-eliciting films increased cardiac output, demonstrating differential physiological responses.
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