TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessment of the neural control of the circulation during psychological stress
AU - Pagani, Massimo
AU - Rimoldi, Ornella
AU - Pizzinelli, Paolo
AU - Furlan, Raffaello
AU - Crivellaro, Wilma
AU - Liberati, Diego
AU - Cerutti, Sergio
AU - Malliani, Alberto
PY - 1991
Y1 - 1991
N2 - In this study, we used spectral analysis of short-term R-R and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) variabilities to estimate the changes in neural control of the circulation produced by psychological stress. The 0.1 Hz low-frequency (LF) component of R-R and SAP variabilities provided a quantitative index of the sympathetic activity controlling heart rate and vasomotion. Conversely the high-frequency (HF) respiratory component of R-R variability provided an index of vagal tone. In conscious dogs we used the seemingly stressful situation of being accompanied for the first time to the experimental laboratory as a stimulus. In human subjects we used mental arithmetic. In both cases LF of R-R and SAP variabilities increased significantly suggesting enhanced sympathetic activity both to the SA node and the vasculature. In man, the index α, a measure of the overall gain of baroreceptor mechanisms, was found to be reduced during mental arithmetic. Spectral analysis of cardiovascular variabilities thus suggests that in man and in conscious dogs psychological challenges induce a profound re-arrangement of neural control of the circulation, which appears to be characterised by sympathetic predominance and which can be monitored by this technique.
AB - In this study, we used spectral analysis of short-term R-R and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) variabilities to estimate the changes in neural control of the circulation produced by psychological stress. The 0.1 Hz low-frequency (LF) component of R-R and SAP variabilities provided a quantitative index of the sympathetic activity controlling heart rate and vasomotion. Conversely the high-frequency (HF) respiratory component of R-R variability provided an index of vagal tone. In conscious dogs we used the seemingly stressful situation of being accompanied for the first time to the experimental laboratory as a stimulus. In human subjects we used mental arithmetic. In both cases LF of R-R and SAP variabilities increased significantly suggesting enhanced sympathetic activity both to the SA node and the vasculature. In man, the index α, a measure of the overall gain of baroreceptor mechanisms, was found to be reduced during mental arithmetic. Spectral analysis of cardiovascular variabilities thus suggests that in man and in conscious dogs psychological challenges induce a profound re-arrangement of neural control of the circulation, which appears to be characterised by sympathetic predominance and which can be monitored by this technique.
KW - Cardiovascular variability
KW - Computer analysis
KW - Sympathetic activity
KW - Vagal activity
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U2 - 10.1016/0165-1838(91)90036-3
DO - 10.1016/0165-1838(91)90036-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 1940025
AN - SCOPUS:0025870998
VL - 35
SP - 33
EP - 41
JO - Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System
JF - Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System
SN - 0165-1838
IS - 1
ER -