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The forearm vasodilatation response to mental stress in humans is thought to be mediated by sympathetic withdrawal and beta-adrenergic mechanisms. However, the mechanisms of altered neural control during sympathetic withdrawal are unclear. Thus, cardiopulmonary baroreceptor activity in relation to sympathetic withdrawal during mental stress was examined. Forearm blood flow was measured during mental stress in males (n = 18) during control and lower body negative pressure at -20 mmHg. Forearm blood flow was significantly increased during mental challenge; however, during lower body negative pressure the vasodilatation response was significantly attenuated in comparison with control. The results suggest the cardiopulmonary baroreceptors are involved with the sympathetic withdrawal response during forearm vasodilatation to mental stress.
Hamer et al. (2003) studied this question.