APStracts 3:0529H, 1996.

Cardiac autonomic control is inversely related to blood pressure variability responses to psychological challenge. Sloan, Rp, Re Demeersman, Pa Shapiro, E Bagiella, Jp Kuhl, M Paik, Mm Myers. Behavioral Medicine Program, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, 622 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032, Division of Clinical Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, Division of Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 722 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032

APStracts 3:0529H, 1996.

Blood pressure exhibits variability (BPV) at low (0.02-0.07 Hz, LF), mid (0.07-0.15 Hz, MF), and high (0.15-0.50 Hz, HF) frequencies. Evidence suggests that BPV responses to challenge are inversely related to cardiac autonomic control. We tested this hypothesis by examining the BPV responses to psychological stressors in 22 normal subjects who differed in cardiac control, operationalized as resting heart period variability (HPV). HPV and BPV were measured noninvasively on a beat-to-beat basis.

Received 21 August 1996; accepted in final form 2 December 1996.
APS Manuscript Number H770-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 31 December 1996