Key result
Operant cardiac conditioning attenuates baroreflex sensitivity in monkeys.
Why the study?
The study investigated how operant conditioning affects baroreflex sensitivity and cardiovascular homeostatic adjustments under behavioral conditions.
May suggest behavioral modulation of autonomic reflexes; leaves open translation to human cardiovascular homeostasis.
Three monkeys were trained to slow and to speed heart rate on an operant schedule. After the animals were performing highly reliably they received injections of nitroglycerin or phenylephrine to elicit baroreflexes during control periods and during slowing or speeding sessions. The findings were that each animal reliably attenuated its baroreflex sensitivity and thereby avoided shock. Thus, the data showed that under appropriate behavioral conditions homeostatic adjustments of the cardiovascular system are reduced.
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Engel et al. (1982) studied this question. Operant cardiac conditioning vs. Control periods was evaluated on Baroreflex sensitivity. Operant cardiac conditioning reliably attenuated baroreflex sensitivity in monkeys, demonstrating that homeostatic cardiovascular adjustments can be reduced under appropriate behavioral conditions.
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