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The Relationship Among Heart Rate, Carotid dP/dt, and Blood Pressure in Humans as a Function of the Type of Stress
Author(s) -
Obrist Paul A.,
Gaebelein Claude J.,
Teller Emily S.,
Langer Alan W.,
Grignolo Alberto,
Light Kathleen C.,
McCubbin James A.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8986.1978.tb01344.x
Subject(s) - propranolol , blood pressure , heart rate , psychology , medicine , cold pressor test , adrenergic , beta (programming language) , stimulus (psychology) , cardiology , shock (circulatory) , endocrinology , receptor , cognitive psychology , computer science , programming language
In three experiments involving young adult males, beta‐adrenergic influences on heart rate and carotid dP/dt were evaluated as a function of the degree of individual control over stressful events. Beta‐adrenergic effects were more pronounced under conditions in which the subjects were either led to believe they had control or where some control was actually provided, i.e., a shock avoidance task. Beta‐adrenergic influences were either minimal or rapidly dissipated under conditions where no control was possible, i.e., the cold pressor, a pornographic film, inescapable shocks, or conditions which provided ready mastery of the task. Where beta‐adrenergic effects were maximal, systolic blood pressure was more appreciably elevated while diastolic blood pressure was less elevated than when beta‐adrenergic effects were minimal. A pharmacological blocking agent (propranolol) was used in one experiment to specify the extent the various cardiovascular changes were influenced by beta‐adrenergic activity. The results are discussed with respect to issues concerning stimulus parameters, blood pressure control mechanisms, individual differences in cardiovascular reactivity, and some methodological problems of the current study.