Effects of mental stress on autonomic cardiac modulation during weightlessness

2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (1) ◽  
pp. H202-H209 ◽  
Author(s):  
André E. Aubert ◽  
Bart Verheyden ◽  
Constantin d′Ydewalle ◽  
Frank Beckers ◽  
Omer Van den Bergh
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Mean Arterial Pressure ◽  
Arterial Pressure ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Mental Stress ◽  
Mental Arithmetic ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Arithmetic Task ◽  
Mental Arithmetic Task ◽  
Normalized Units

Sustained weightlessness affects all body functions, among these also cardiac autonomic control mechanisms. How this may influence neural response to central stimulation by a mental arithmetic task remains an open question. The hypothesis was tested that microgravity alters cardiovascular neural response to standardized cognitive load stimuli. Beat-to-beat heart rate, brachial blood pressure, and respiratory frequency were collected in five astronauts, taking part in three different short-duration (10 to 11 days) space missions to the International Space Station. Data recording was performed in supine position 1 mo before launch; at days 5 or 8 in space; and on days 1, 4, and 25 after landing. Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters were obtained in the frequency domain. Measurements were performed in the control condition for 10 min and during a 5-min mental arithmetic stress task, consisting of deducting 17 from a four-digit number, read by a colleague, and orally announcing the result. Our results show that over all sessions (pre-, in-, and postflight), mental stress induced an average increase in mean heart rate (Δ7 ± 1 beats/min; P = 0.03) and mean arterial pressure (Δ7 ± 1 mmHg; P = 0.006). A sympathetic excitation during mental stress was shown from HRV parameters: increase of low frequency expressed in normalized units (Δ8.3 ± 1.4; P = 0.004) and low frequency/high frequency (Δ1.6 ± 0.3; P = 0.001) and decrease of high frequency expressed in normalized units (Δ8.9 ± 1.4; P = 0.004). The total power was not influenced by mental stress. No effect of spaceflight was found on baseline heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and HRV parameters. No differences in response to mental stress were found between pre-, in-, and postflight. Our findings confirm that a mental arithmetic task in astronauts elicits sympathovagal shifts toward enhanced sympathetic modulation and reduced vagal modulation. However, these responses are not changed in space during microgravity or after spaceflight.

Validation of the Polar Heart Rate Monitor for Assessing Heart Rate During Physical and Mental Stress

2000 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey L. Goodie ◽  
Kevin T. Larkin ◽  
Scott Schauss
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Mental Stress ◽  
Mental Arithmetic ◽  
Inexpensive Method ◽  
Arithmetic Task ◽  
Heart Rate Monitor ◽  
Heart Rates ◽  
Hand Grip ◽  
Mental Arithmetic Task ◽  
Resting Period

Abstract The Polar Vantage XL heart rate monitor provides an ambulatory, inexpensive method of continuously measuring heart rate. To examine the validity of the Polar monitor for measuring heart rate during resting periods and while engaging in two stressful tasks, 30 students participated in a 1-hour laboratory session. Heart rates were measured simultaneously using the Polar monitor and electrocardiography (ECG) during a hand grip exercise and a mental arithmetic task, each preceded by a 4-min resting period. Within-subject correlations between the two devices were significant (mean r = 0.98, P < .001). All correlations, except for three participants, exceeded r = 0.90. Between-task correlation analyses revealed high correlations (i. e., rs ≥ 0.98) between the Polar monitor and ECG. The Polar monitor obtained readings that were slightly, though significantly higher than readings obtained using ECG. The correspondence between observed mean heart rates from the Polar monitor and ECG suggest that the Polar monitor provides a valid measure of heart rate during stationary laboratory tasks.

Incoherent oscillations of respiratory sinus arrhythmia during acute mental stress in humans

2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (1) ◽  
pp. H359-H367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyuichi Niizeki ◽  
Tadashi Saitoh
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia ◽  
Mental Stress ◽  
Phase Synchronization ◽  
Mental Arithmetic ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Phase Lag ◽  
Arithmetic Task ◽  
Sinus Arrhythmia

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) has been widely used as a measure of the cardiac vagal control in response to stress. However, RSA seems not to be a generalized indicator because of its dependency on respiratory parameter and individual variations of RSA amplitude (ARSA). We hypothesized that phase-lag variations between RSA and respiration may serve as a normalized index of the degree of mental stress. Twenty healthy volunteers performed mental arithmetic task (ART) after 5 min of resting control followed by 5 min of recovery. Breathing pattern, beat-to-beat R-R intervals, and blood pressure (BP) were determined using inductance plethysmography, electrocardiography, and a Finapres device, respectively. The analytic signals of breathing and RSA were obtained by Hilbert transform and the degree of phase synchronization (λ) was quantified. With the use of spectral analysis, heart rate variability (HRV) was estimated for the low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) bands. A steady-state 3-min resting period (REST), the first 3 min (ART1), and the last 3 min (ART2) of the ART period (ranged from 6- to 19 min) and the last 3 min of the recovery period (RCV) were analyzed separately. Heart rate, systolic BP, and breathing frequency (fR) increased and λ, ARSA, and HF power decreased from REST to ART ( P < 0.01). The λ was correlated with normalized ARSA and the HF power. The decrease in λ could not be explained solely by the increase in fR. We conclude that mental stress exerts an influence on RSA oscillations, inducing incoherent phase lag with respect to breathing, in addition to a decrease in RSA.

scholarly journals Effect of nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners on hemodynamic responses to acute stress: a randomized crossover trial in healthy women

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jérémy Cros ◽  
Lucie Bidlingmeyer ◽  
Robin Rosset ◽  
Kevin Seyssel ◽  
Camille Crézé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Output ◽  
Mean Arterial Pressure ◽  
Arterial Pressure ◽  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Mental Stress ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Mental Arithmetic ◽  
Hemodynamic Responses ◽  
Hemodynamic Stress

Abstract Background The mechanisms by which chronic stress increases the risk of non-communicable diseases remain poorly understood. On one hand, chronic stress may increase systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and blood pressure, which may lead to blood vessels injury and altered myocardial perfusion. On the other hand, chronic stress may promote the overconsumption of sugar-containing foods and favor obesity. There is indeed evidence that sweet foods are preferentially consumed to alleviate stress responses. The effects of nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) on hemodynamic stress responses remain however largely unknown. Objective/design This study aimed at comparing the effects of sucrose-containing and NNS-containing drinks, as compared to unsweetened water, on hemodynamic responses to acute stress in twelve healthy female subjects. Acute stress responses were elicited by a 30-min mental stress (5-min Stroop’s test alternated with 5-min mental arithmetic) and a 3-min cold pressure test (CPT), each preceded by a resting baseline period. Hemodynamic stress responses were investigated by the repeated measurement of mean arterial pressure and the continuous monitoring of cardiac output by thoracic electrical bioimpedance measurement. SVR was selected as a primary outcome because it is a sensitive measure of hemodynamic responses to acute stress procedures. Results With all three drinks, SVR were not changed with mental stress (P = 0.437), but were increased with CPT (P = 0.045). Both mental stress and CPT increased mean arterial pressure and heart rate (all P < 0.001). Cardiac output increased with mental stress (P < 0.001) and remained unchanged with CPT (P = 0.252). No significant differences in hemodynamic responses were observed between water, sucrose and NNS (stress × condition, all P > 0.05). Conclusions These results demonstrate that sucrose and NNS do not alter hemodynamic responses to two different standardized acute stress protocols.

Acupuncture effects on reflex responses to mental stress in humans

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (5) ◽  
pp. R1462-R1468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly R. Middlekauff ◽  
Jun Liang Yu ◽  
Kakit Hui
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Mean Arterial Pressure ◽  
Arterial Pressure ◽  
Mental Stress ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Real Acupuncture ◽  
Normal Humans ◽  
Needle Acupuncture

In animal studies, acupuncture has been shown to be sympathoinhibitory, but it is unknown if acupuncture is sympathoinhibitory in humans. Nineteen healthy volunteers underwent mental stress testing pre- and postacupuncture. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), blood pressure, and heart rate during mental stress were compared pre- and postacupuncture. Control acupuncture consisted of acupuncture at nonacupoints and “no-needle” acupuncture. Acupuncture had no effect on resting MSNA, blood pressure, or heart rate. After real acupuncture, the increase in mean arterial pressure (pre- vs. postacupuncture 4.5 vs. 1.7 mmHg, P < 0.001), but not MSNA or heart rate, was blunted during mental stress. Similarly, following nonacupoint acupuncture, the increase in mean arterial pressure was blunted during mental stress (5.4 vs. 2.9 mmHg, P < 0.0003). No-needle acupuncture had no effect on these variables. In conclusion, acupuncture at traditional acupoints, nonacupoints, and no-needle acupuncture does not modulate baseline MSNA or MSNA responses to mental stress in normal humans. Acupuncture significantly attenuates the increase in blood pressure during mental stress. Needling nonacupoints, but not “no-needle” acupuncture, have a similar effect on blood pressure.

scholarly journals Heart Rate Reactivity to Mental Stress in Athlete and Non-Athlete Children

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (118) ◽  
pp. 4-12
Author(s):  
Krisztina Ábel ◽  
Attila Rausz Szabó ◽  
Attila Szabo
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Psychosocial Stress ◽  
Mental Stress ◽  
Classical Music ◽  
Mental Arithmetic ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Heart Rate Reactivity ◽  
Arithmetic Task ◽  
Before And After

Background. Research suggests that exercise training and/or physical fitness may be associated with lower heart rate reactivity and faster recovery from psychosocial stress. This relationship was rarely studied in children despite the potential protective role of physical activity in stress that may start in early life stages. Methods. In this laboratory investigation we examined 18 athlete and non-athlete children before, during and following exposure to mental stress which consisted of the Stroop Color Word Task and a mental arithmetic task, both distracted by classical music, in a counterbalanced research design. Results. The results based on absolute heart rate measures suggested that athletes exhibited lower heart rates in the stress-anticipation period as well as during the stress period than non-athletes. However, based on relative measures these differences vanished. The two groups of children did not differ in perceived arousal, perceived stressfulness of the mental tasks, and the self-reported feeling states before and after stress. Further, they did not differ in their performance on the two stress-eliciting active-coping tasks as indicated by the number of correct answers. Conclusion. These results appear to suggest that athletic status in children is unrelated to heart rate reactivity and other subjective psychological experiences before, during and after acute psychosocial stress.  Keywords: adolescent, exercise, fitness, physical activity, relative measures.

scholarly journals Respiratory-phase Domain Analysis of Heart Rate Variability Can Accurately Estimate Cardiac Vagal Activity during a Mental Arithmetic Task

2007 ◽  
Vol 46 (03) ◽  
pp. 376-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Tachibana ◽  
K. Takamasu ◽  
K. Kotani
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Mental Arithmetic ◽  
Domain Analysis ◽  
Load Level ◽  
Vagal Activity ◽  
Arithmetic Task ◽  
Phase Domain ◽  
Respiratory Phase ◽  
Mental Arithmetic Task

Summary Objectives: The objectives of this paper were to present a method to extract the amplitude of RSA in the respiratory-phase domain, to compare that with subjective or objective indices of the MWL (mental workload), and to compare that with a conventional frequencyanalysis in terms of its accuracy during a mental arithmetic task. Methods: HRV (heart rate variability), ILV (instantaneous lung volume), and motion of the throat were measured under a mental arithmetic experiment and subjective and objective indices were also obtained. The amplitude of RSA was extracted in the respiratory-phase domain, and its correlation with the load level was compared with the results of the frequencydomain analysis, which is the standard analysis of the HRV. Results: The subjective and objective indices decreased as the load level increased, showing that the experimental protocol was appropriate. Then, the amplitude of RSA in the respiratory-phase domain also decreased with the increase in the load level. The results of the correlation analysis showed that the respiratory-phase domain analysis has higher negative correlations, −0.84 and −0.82, with the load level as determined bysimplecorrelation and rankcorrelation, respectively, than does frequencyanalysis, for which the correlations were found to be −0.54 and −0.63, respectively. In addition, it was demonstrated thatthe proposed method could be applied to the short-term extraction of RSA amplitude. Conclusions: We proposed a simple and effective method to extract the amplitude of the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) in the respiratory-phase domain and the results show that this method can estimate cardiac vagal activity more accurately than frequency analysis.

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