Key result
Simple reaction times across auditory, visual, and tactile tasks did not differ between 30 hypertensives and 29 normotensives, regardless of the phase of the cardiac cycle.
Why the study?
Does hypertension impair simple reaction times across different phases of the cardiac cycle compared to normotensives?
Cross-Sectional (n=59)
Does hypertension impair simple reaction times across different phases of the cardiac cycle compared to normotensives?
Hypertension does not appear to impair simple sensory-motor reaction times, regardless of the phase of the cardiac cycle.
No evidence of hypertension-related slowing; leaves open effects on complex cognition or disease progression.
Hypertension is characterized by cognitive deficits. As evidence for impaired psychomotor speed, including slower reaction times, is mixed, we aimed to provide a detailed investigation of simple reaction time in hypertension. Pre-motor and motor reaction times were measured across the cardiac cycle in 30 hypertensives and 29 normotensives to determine the effects of phasic and tonic blood pressure on performance. Auditory, visual, and tactile simple reaction time tasks were completed with stimuli presented 0, 300, and 600 ms after the R-wave of the electrocardiogram. Reaction times did not differ between hypertensives and normotensives. Although pre-motor reaction times were faster during the late phase than the early phase of the cardiac cycle whereas motor reaction times were unchanged, this effect was similar for hypertensives and normotensives. No sensory-motor deficits were evident in these hypertensives regardless of baroreceptor activity.
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Edwards et al. (2007) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension (n=59). Simple reaction time tasks (auditory, visual, tactile) vs. Normotensives was evaluated on Pre-motor and motor reaction times. Simple reaction times across auditory, visual, and tactile tasks did not differ between 30 hypertensives and 29 normotensives, regardless of the phase of the cardiac cycle.
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