Graduation Year
2010
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.A.
Degree Granting Department
Psychology
Major Professor
Kristen Salomon, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Jonathan Rottenberg, Ph.D.
Committee Member
David Diamond, Ph.D.
Keywords
parasympathetic nervous system, cardiovascular reactivity, stress, autonomic nervous system, family history, respiratory sinus arrhythmia
Abstract
Exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity and impaired recovery to psychological stress is independently related to cardiovascular disease (CVD), and may play a causal role in its development. I examined autonomic reactivity and recovery in 136 black, white, and Hispanic women who were predisposed to CVD, as indicated by a positive family history (FH+). Pre-ejection period (PEP; sympathetic) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA; parasympathetic) were measured during public speaking, mental arithmetic, and cold pressor tasks. Overall, FH+ participants exhibited greater RSA reactivity, while black participants exhibited impaired RSA recovery. These findings suggest that a hereditary predisposition for CVD is related to altered autonomic reactivity before any differences in resting levels are observed. Further, black participants did not exhibit a RSA rebound after the stress tasks, a key component in buffering the damaging effects of exaggerated sympathetic reactivity. These findings demonstrate the importance of examining parasympathetic activity in addition to sympathetic reactivity measures.
Scholar Commons Citation
Karlsdóttir, Mardís Sara, "Autonomic Reactivity and Recovery in Healthy Black, White, and Hispanic Women With and Without a Family History of Cardiovascular Disease" (2010). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/1676
