January 1, 1988Psychophysiology
Baroreceptor Stimulation Alters Pain Sensation Depending on Tonic Blood Pressure
Key result
Mechanical stimulation of baroreceptors lowered pain threshold in normotensives but increased tolerance to intense electric stimulation in borderline hypertensives.
Why the study?
Does mechanical stimulation of baroreceptors alter pain threshold and electrical brain activity in normotensive and borderline hypertensive humans?
Population
Two groups of humans with different tonic blood pressure levels (normotensives and borderline hypertensives)
Comparison
Mechanical stimulation of the baroreceptors in… vs Control condition
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
Baroreceptor effects on pain vary by blood pressure status; leaves open a mechanistic role in hypertension predisposition but requires confirmation.
Structured PICO
Does mechanical stimulation of baroreceptors alter pain threshold and electrical brain activity in normotensive and borderline hypertensive humans?
P
Population
Humans with normotension or borderline hypertension undergoing mechanical stimulation of baroreceptors.
I
Intervention
Mechanical stimulation of the baroreceptors in the carotid sinus
C
Comparator
Control condition
O
Outcome
Pain threshold and electrical brain activity (contingent negative variation)surrogate
The effect of baroreceptor stimulation on pain sensation depends on tonic blood pressure, supporting the hypothesis that operantly-conditioned blood pressure elevation under stress may be specific to individuals predisposed to essential hypertension.
Cite This Study
Elbert et al. (1988) studied Normotension and borderline hypertension. Mechanical stimulation of the baroreceptors in the carotid sinus vs. Control condition was evaluated on Pain threshold and electrical brain activity (contingent negative variation). Mechanical stimulation of baroreceptors lowered pain threshold in normotensives but increased tolerance to intense electric stimulation in borderline hypertensives.