Neuroscience 2003 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 829.5 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Functional MRI studies of forebrain regions mediating cardiovascular control during mental stress. |
| Authors: |
Valerio, J.*1
; Shoemaker, K.2
; Menon, R. S.3
; Cechetto, D. F.1
1Anat. and Cell. Biol., Univ. of Western Ontario, London, Canada 2ON, MSB Rm 439, N6A 5C1, 3Canada, MSB Rm 439, N6A 5C1, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Autonomic, Neuroendocrine and Other Homeostatic Systems - Stress and the Brain -- Stress-modulated pathways |
| Session: |
829. Stress-modulated pathways IV Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Wednesday, November 12, 2003 8:00 AM-9:00 AM |
| Location: | Morial Convention Center - Hall F-I, Board # I74 |
| Keywords: | INSULAR CORTEX, CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY, AMYGDALA, STROOP COLOR WORD TEST |
High cardiovascular reactivity due to stress has been established as a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Animal and human studies indicate a role of forebrain regions, specifically the medial prefrontal cortex, the insular cortex and the amygdala, in mediating autonomic control of the cardiovascular system. However, the specific regions of the forebrain involved in the cardiovascular control during the stress response in humans are unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate what proportion of a young healthy population demonstrates cardiovascular reactivity to a laboratory mental stress task, and to determine the forebrain regions involved in the stress response in high cardiovascular reactors (reactors) and low cardiovascular reactors (non reactors). Methods: In a prescreening trial, 50 volunteer subjects (mean age 24) performed 2 mental stress tasks: mental arithmetic (MA) and the Stroop Color Word Task (SCWT). Heart rate (HR) and Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) were continually recorded during baseline and stressor periods. Results: On average, HR increased by 8.0 bpm during the mental stress tasks from baseline measurements. Four subjects were designated reactors based on significant HR reactivity, with an average increase of 29.0 ± 3.0 bpm on MA and 32.3 ± 4.1 bpm increase on the SCWT. In contrast, 4 individuals who demonstrated no change in HR from baseline were classified as non-reactors (MA, -1.3 ± 0.6 bpm and SCWT, -2.5 ± 0.7 bpm). Preliminary fMRI results indicate differences in activity levels of the insular cortex and amygdala in reactors versus non reactors.
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2003 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. New Orleans, LA: Society for Neuroscience, 2003. Online.
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