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The psychosocial stress‐induced increase in salivary alpha‐amylase is independent of saliva flow rate
Author(s) -
Rohleder Nicolas,
Wolf Jutta M.,
Maldonado Enrique F.,
Kirschbaum Clemens
Publication year - 2006
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.1469-8986.2006.00457.x
Subject(s) - saliva , trier social stress test , psychology , endocrinology , heart rate , medicine , alpha amylase , drooling , confounding , amylase , sympathetic nervous system , chemistry , fight or flight response , surgery , biochemistry , blood pressure , gene , enzyme
The stress response of salivary alpha‐amylase (sAA) has been suggested as an index for sympathetic nervous system activation. However, concurrent inhibition of the parasympathetic nervous system is discussed as a confounder due to suppression of saliva flow rate. Here we set out to test the influence of stress‐induced changes in flow rate on sAA secretion. Twenty‐six subjects underwent the Trier Social Stress Test and a control condition. Saliva was sampled by passive drooling or salivettes. Saliva flow rate, sAA levels and output, salivary cortisol, and heart rate variability were measured. Flow rate increased only when sampled by passive drooling. Stress‐induced increases in amylase levels were correlated with increases of amylase output but not with flow rate. Results indicate that flow rate is not a confounder of stress‐induced sAA activation and suggest that valid measurements of sAA can be obtained by salivettes without the need for assessment of flow rate.