Autonomic Nervous System Responses Research Articles

Temporal dynamics of autonomic nervous system responses under cognitive-emotional workload in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is commonly observed in various mental disorders, particularly when individuals engage in prolonged cognitive-emotional tasks that require ANS adjustment to workload. Although the understanding of the temporal dynamics of sympathetic and parasympathetic tones in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is limited, analyzing ANS reactions to cognitive-emotional workload could provide valuable insights into one of the underlying causes of OCD. This study investigated the temporal dynamics of heart rate (HR) and pupil area (PA) while participants with OCD and healthy volunteers solved antisaccade tasks, with affective pictures serving as central fixation stimuli. The data of 31 individuals with OCD and 30 healthy volunteers were included in the study, comprising three separate blocks, each lasting approximately 8 min. The results revealed an increase in sympathetic tone in the OCD group, with the most noticeable rise occurring during the middle part of each block, particularly during the presentation of negative stimuli. Healthy volunteers demonstrated adaptive temporal dynamics of HR and PA from the first block to the last block of tasks, whereas individuals with OCD exhibited fewer changes over time, suggesting a reduced adaptation of the ANS sympathetic tone to cognitive-emotional workload in OCD.

Acute Autonomic Nervous System Response to Direct Sacral Nerve Root Stimulation in Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction: A New Approach to Understand the Mechanism of Action of Sacral Nerve Modulation.

Our goal was to assess acute autonomic nervous system (ANS) response to direct sacral nerve root (SNR) stimulation in the context of lower urinary tract dysfunction. In this retrospective monocentric study, patients undergoing 2-stage sacral nerve modulation for overactive bladder, nonobstructive urinary retention, or chronic bladder pain syndrome between March 2022 and June 2023 were analyzed. A standardized stimulation protocol was applied during the lead implantation, each of the 4 contact points being sequentially stimulated at the amplitude required to elicit anal motor response. Stimulations were labeled as StimA, StimB, StimC, and StimD, ordered by ascending order of minimum amplitude required for anal motor response. Heart rate variability parameters were collected using PhysioDoloris Monitor, and computed through the time-domain (standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals [SDNN], root mean square of successive differences), the frequency-domain (low frequency, high frequency) and the graphical (Analgesia Nociception Index [ANI]) methods. Fifty patients were analyzed, including 35 females. Twelve patients had an underlying neurological disease. Efficacy was deemed achieved in 54% of patients. SDNN variability significantly increased during StimA to StimC, while maximum SDNN significantly increased only during StimA. ANI variability significantly increased during all 4 stimulations, while maximum ANI significantly increased only during StimA. Direct stimulation of SNR is responsible for a significant increase in ANS and relative parasympathetic nervous system activity, with a greater effect observed when the stimulation was delivered closer to the SNR. These results shed light on potential mechanisms underlying sacral nerve modulation, particularly regarding the treatment of ANS dysregulation in lower urinary tract dysfunction.

Examining the Influence of Cognitive Load and Environmental Conditions on Autonomic Nervous System Response in Military Aircrew: A Hypoxia-Normoxia Study.

Executing flight operations demand that military personnel continuously perform tasks that utilize low- and high-order cognitive functions. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is crucial for regulating the supply of oxygen (O2) to the brain, but it is unclear how sustained cognitive loads of different complexities may affect this regulation. Therefore, in the current study, ANS responses to low and high cognitive loads in hypoxic and normoxic conditions were evaluated. The present analysis used data from a previously conducted, two-factor experimental design. Healthy subjects (n = 24) aged 19 to 45 years and located near Fort Novosel, AL, participated in the parent study. Over two, 2-h trials, subjects were exposed to hypoxic (14.0% O2) and normoxic (21.0% O2) air while simultaneously performing one, 15-min and one, 10-min simulation incorporating low- and high-cognitive aviation-related tasks, respectively. The tests were alternated across five, 27-min epochs; however, only epochs 2 through 4 were used in the analyses. Heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV), and arterial O2 saturation were continuously measured using the Warfighter MonitorTM (Tiger Tech Solutions, Inc., Miami, FL, USA), a previously validated armband device equipped with electrocardiographic and pulse oximetry capabilities. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) regression models were performed to compare ANS responses between the low- and high-cognitive-load assessments under hypoxic and normoxic conditions. Pairwise comparisons corrected for familywise error were performed using Tukey's test within and between high and low cognitive loads under each environmental condition. Across epochs 2 through 4, in both the hypoxic condition and the normoxic condition, the high-cognitive-load assessment (MATB-II) elicited heightened ANS activity, reflected by increased HR (+2.4 ± 6.9 bpm) and decreased HRV (-rMSSD: -0.4 ± 2.7 ms and SDNN: -13.6 ± 14.6 ms). Conversely, low cognitive load (ADVT) induced an improvement in ANS activity, with reduced HR (-2.6 ± 6.3 bpm) and increased HRV (rMSSD: +1.8 ± 6.0 ms and SDNN: vs. +0.7 ± 6.3 ms). Similar observations were found for the normoxic condition, albeit to a lower degree. These within-group ANS responses were significantly different between high and low cognitive loads (HR: +5.0 bpm, 95% CI: 2.1, 7.9, p < 0.0001; rMSSD: -2.2 ms, 95% CI: -4.2, -0.2, p = 0.03; SDNN: -14.3 ms, 95% CI: -18.4, -10.1, p < 0.0001) under the hypoxic condition. For normoxia, significant differences in ANS response were only observed for HR (+4.3 bpm, 95% CI: 1.2, 7.4, p = 0.002). Lastly, only high cognitive loads elicited significant differences between hypoxic and normoxic conditions but just for SDNN (-13.3 ms, 95% CI, -17.5, -8.9, p < 0.0001). Our study observations suggest that compared to low cognitive loads, performing high-cognitive-load tasks significantly alters ANS activity, especially under hypoxic conditions. Accounting for this response is critical, as military personnel during flight operations sustain exposure to high cognitive loads of unpredictable duration and frequency. Additionally, this is likely compounded by the increased ANS activity consequent to pre-flight activities and anticipation of combat-related outcomes.

Seven robust and easy to obtain biomarkers to measure acute stress

With the purpose of identifying a sensitive, robust, and easy-to-measure set of biomarkers to assess stress reactivity, we here study a large set of relatively easy to obtain markers reflecting subjective, autonomic nervous system (ANS), endocrine, and inflammatory responses to acute social stress (n = 101). A subset of the participants was exposed to another social stressor the next day (n = 48) while being measured in the same way. Acute social stress was induced following standardized procedures. The markers investigated were self-reported positive and negative affect, heart rate, electrodermal activity, salivary cortisol, and ten inflammatory markers both in capillary plasma and salivary samples, including IL-22 which has not been studied in response to acute stress in humans before. Robust effects (significant effect in the same direction for both days) were found for self-reported negative affect, heart rate, electrodermal activity, plasma IL-5, plasma IL-22, salivary IL-8 and salivary IL-10. Of these seven markers, the participants’ IL-22 responses on the first day were positively correlated to those on the second day. We found no correlations between salivary and capillary plasma stress responses for any of the ten cytokines and somewhat unexpectedly, cytokine responses in saliva seemed more pronounced and more in line with previous literature than cytokines in capillary plasma. In sum, seven robust and easy to obtain biomarkers to measure acute stress response were identified and should be used in future stress research to detect and examine stress reactivity. This includes IL-22 in plasma as a promising novel marker.

From Social Stress and Isolation to Autonomic Nervous System Dysregulation in Suicidal Behavior.

In this narrative review we wanted to describe the relationship of autonomic nervous system activity with social environment and suicidal spectrum behaviors. Patients with suicidal ideation/suicide attempt have higher sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and lower parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity in resting conditions and during acute stress tasks compared with patients without suicidal ideation/suicide attempt. Death by suicide and violent suicide attempt also are related to SNS hyperactivation. Similarly, a SNS/PNS imbalance has been observed in people with childhood trauma, stressful life events or feelings of loneliness and isolation. Social support seems to increase PNS control and resilience. Due to the importance of the social context and stressful life events in suicidal behavior, SNS/PNS imbalance could act as a mediator in this relationship and be a source of relevant biomarkers. Childhood trauma and stressful life events may impair the autonomic nervous system response in suicidal patients. Loneliness, isolation and social support may act as moderators in acute stress situations.

Listening handicap in tinnitus patients with normal extended high frequencies from the perspective of the autonomic nervous system–Effort or fatigue?

ObjectiveIn previous studies, the results regarding the presence of listening effort or fatigue in tinnitus patients were inconsistent. The reason for this inconsistency could be that extended high frequencies, which can cause listening handicap, were not within normal limits. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the listening skills in tinnitus patients by matching the normal hearing thresholds at all frequencies, including the extended high frequency. MethodsEighteen chronic tinnitus patients and thirty matched healthy controls having normal pure-tone average with symmetrical hearing thresholds was included. Subjects were evaluated with 0.125–20 kHz pure-tone audiometry, Montreal cognitive assessment test (MoCA), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Matrix Test, Pupillometry. ResultsPupil dilatation in the 'coding' phase of the sentence presented in tinnitus patients was less than in the control group (p < 0.05). There was no difference between the groups for Matrix test scores (p > 0.05) Also, there was no statistically significant correlation between THI and Pupillometry components nor between MoCA (p > 0.05). ConclusionEven though tinnitus patients had normal hearing in the range of 0.125–20 kHz, their autonomic nervous system responses during listening differed from healthy subjects. This difference was interpreted for potential listening fatigue in tinnitus patients.

Effect of the early diastolic blood pressure response to the head-up tilt test on the recurrence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Otolith organ acts complementarily with the autonomic nervous system to maintain blood pressure. However, the effect of blood pressure variability in the autonomic nervous system on otolith organ has not yet been determined. This study aimed to verify the hypothesis that blood pressure variability in the autonomic nervous system affects the recurrence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which is the most common disease of the vestibular organs, by using the head-up tilt test (HUTT). This study included 432 patients diagnosed with idiopathic BPPV. The follow-up period for all patients was 12 months. Age, sex, hypertension, diabetes and recurrence were analyzed. The HUTT parameters were divided into a group of patients whose average diastolic blood pressure increased in the upright position compared to supine position during the HUTT (DBP1) and a group of patients whose average diastolic blood pressure decreased in the upright position compared to supine position during the HUTT (DBP2). Model selection, general loglinear analysis, and logit loglinear analysis were performed using a hierarchically progressing loglinear analysis. In summary, the group with increased average diastolic blood pressure (DBP1) showed a higher tendency for BPPV recurrence compared to the group with decreased diastolic blood pressure (DBP2) in the upright position during the HUTT, although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.080). However, in males, the DBP1 group demonstrated a significantly higher recurrence rate of BPPV than the DBP2 group during the HUTT (95% CI, -20.021 to -16.200; p < 0.001). It is presumed that poor autonomic nervous system response through vestibulosympathetic reflex maintains elevated diastolic blood pressure in the upright position during the HUTT. This variability is assumed to affect the recurrence of BPPV.

Cortical Sources And Autonomic Nervous System Response Of Listening To North Indian Classical Music

BACKGROUND: Music can affect the human brain and qEEG with its sub-second resolution can be used to study brain activity. The North Indian classical music’s (NICM) effect on brain activity is largely undiscovered. OBJECTIVE: To find out the cortical sources activated along with the autonomic nervous system response while listening to NICM. Methods: 30 Indian subjects (Mean age- 26.1 and (SD) - 1.4 years) were asked to listen to 4 NICM ragas of 5 minutes each with increasing minor note to major note ratio i.e., M1(0), M2(0.16), M3(0.4), M4(1.33).128 channel of EEG signal was recorded which was preprocessed and cortical source localization was done using sLORETA.The autonomic nervous system response while listening to each music excerpt was assessed using Heart Rate Variability parameters by measuring lead II electrocardiography. RESULTS: The cortical sources analysis showed increased activation in cortical regions associated with the extraction of acoustic features of music (superior, middle, and inferior temporal gyruses in addition to fusiform and supramarginal gyrus), emotion generation (precuneus and inferior frontal gyri) and Default Mode Network (posterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, and inferior parietal lobule) while listening to M1. There was a decreased activation in these areas while listening to M2, M3 &amp; M4 (as the minor notes increased).The mean heart rate was significantly higher while listening to M4. There was a reduction in HF while listening to M4 and M3.There was a significant decrease in RMSSD while listening to M4 as compared to the resting state. CONCLUSION: Music can affect brain activity and autonomic function. Music with major notes causes activation of DMN areas causing mind wandering and self-referential mental activity than music with minor notes which decreases DMN activity.In terms of autonomic function increase in minor notes caused decrease in RMSSD and HF signifying an increase in stress and reduced parasympathetic tone. The authors declare no competing interest. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). No Grant was used. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Design of Training Load Monitoring and Adjustment Algorithm for Athletes: Based on Heart Rate Variability and Body Index Data

The training load monitoring and adjustment algorithm for athletes, based on heart rate variability (HRV) and body index data, offers a comprehensive approach to optimizing athletic performance and minimizing the risk of injury. By leveraging HRV data, which reflects the autonomic nervous system's response to training stress, and body index measurements such as body mass index (BMI) or body fat percentage, the algorithm provides insights into athletes' physiological readiness and recovery status. The design of an effective training load monitoring and adjustment algorithm is critical for optimizing athletic performance while minimizing the risk of injury and overtraining. This paper proposes a novel approach that integrates heart rate variability (HRV) and body index data to tailor training programs to individual athlete needs. This paper presents an innovative approach to training load monitoring and adjustment for athletes, utilizing heart rate variability (HRV) and body index data. Through continuous monitoring and analysis of HRV metrics such as RMSSD and LF/HF Ratio, in conjunction with body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage, personalized load management strategies are developed to optimize athletic performance while mitigating the risk of injury and overtraining. The optimization algorithm outlined in this study allows for real-time adjustments to training loads based on individual physiological responses, ensuring that athletes receive tailored training programs that maximize performance gains and promote long-term health and well-being. By leveraging HRV and body index data, coaches and sports scientists can enhance athletic performance outcomes and support the overall development and longevity of athletes' careers.

Cortical Sources and Autonomic Nervous System Response of Listening to North Indian Classical Music (P11-1.008)

Cortical Sources and Autonomic Nervous System Response of Listening to North Indian Classical Music (P11-1.008)

Comparing multimodal physiological responses to social and physical pain in healthy participants.

Previous physiology-driven pain studies focused on examining the presence or intensity of physical pain. However, people experience various types of pain, including social pain, which induces negative mood; emotional distress; and neural activities associated with physical pain. In particular, comparison of autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses between social and physical pain in healthy adults has not been well demonstrated. We explored the ANS responses induced by two types of pain-social pain, associated with a loss of social ties; and physical pain, caused by a pressure cuff-based on multimodal physiological signals. Seventy-three healthy individuals (46 women; mean age = 20.67 ± 3.27 years) participated. Behavioral responses were assessed to determine their sensitivity to pain stimuli. Electrocardiogram, electrodermal activity, photoplethysmogram, respiration, and finger temperature (FT) were measured, and 12 features were extracted from these signals. Social pain induced increased heart rate (HR) and skin conductance (SC) and decreased blood volume pulse (BVP), pulse transit time (PTT), respiration rate (RR), and FT, suggesting a heterogeneous pattern of sympathetic-parasympathetic coactivation. Moreover, physical pain induced increased heart rate variability (HRV) and SC, decreased BVP and PTT, and resulted in no change in FT, indicating sympathetic-adrenal-medullary activation and peripheral vasoconstriction. These results suggest that changes in HR, HRV indices, RR, and FT can serve as markers for differentiating physiological responses to social and physical pain stimuli.

Heart rate variability: Obtaining the stress score from SDNN values

BACKGROUND: Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a non-invasive method of assessing the autonomic nervous system response during exercise and fatigue. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze the validity and feasibility of the stress score index (SS) calculated from SDNN values during exercise. METHODS: 18 Men performed 2 running tests: 1) incremental exercise test; 2) 10-minute constant load test. Subjects underwent HRV analysis during the constant load test, before both tests, and afterward in a seated position at 3 intervals (0’–5’, 5’–10’, 10’–15’). The relationship between SDNN and SD2 was analyzed before, during, and after the test. SS was calculated as 1/SD2*1000. The Bland-Altman test analyzed the reliability of ESS. The bias, limits of agreement (LoA), standard deviation of difference, intraclass correlation (ICC), and person coefficient were calculated. RESULTS: The bias was 0.15 ± 2.54 (UperLOA: 2.54; LowerLOA: -2.23). In all conditions, SD2 and SDNN showed a positive linear relationship (r2 = 0.986); SS and ESS were correlated; and SS and ESS described a positive linear relationship (r2 = 0.993). CONCLUSIONS: The SS index calculation from SDNN is a reliable alternative during exercise.

Modification of heart rate variability induced by focal muscle vibration in patients with severe acquired brain injury

ABSTRACT Background/Purpose Heart rate variability (HRV) is a biomarker of autonomic nervous system (ANS) reaction in persons with severe acquired brain injury (sABI) who undergo a rehabilitation treatment, such as focal muscle vibration (FMV). This study aims to evaluate if and how FMV can modulate HRV and to compare potential differences in FMV modulation in HRV between patients with sABI and healthy controls. Methods Ten patients with sABI and seven healthy controls have been recruited. Each individual underwent the same stimulation protocol (four consecutive trains of vibration of 5 minutes each with a 1-minute pause). HRV was analyzed through the ratio of frequency domain heart-rate variability (LF/HF). Results In the control group, after performing FMV, a significant LF/HF difference was observed in the in the second vibration session compared to the POST phase. Patients with SABI treated on the affected side showed a statistically significant LF/HF difference in the PRE compared to the first vibration session. Conclusion These preliminary results suggest that FMV may modify the cardiac ANS activity in patients with sABI.

Tracking Cancer: Exploring Heart Rate Variability Patterns by Cancer Location and Progression.

Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is an autonomic nervous system (ANS) response that may indicate dysfunction in the human body. Consistent evidence shows cancer patients elicit lower HRV; however, only select cancer locations were previously evaluated. Thus, the aim of the current study was to explore HRV patterns in patients diagnosed with and in varying stages of the most prevalent cancers. At a single tertiary academic medical center, 798 patients were recruited. HRV was measured via an armband monitor (Warfighter MonitorTM, Tiger Tech Solutions, Inc., Miami, FL, USA) equipped with electrocardiographic capabilities and was recorded for 5 to 7 min with patients seated in an upright position. Three time-domain metrics were calculated: SDNN (standard deviation of the NN interval), rMSSD (the root mean square of successive differences of NN intervals), and the percentage of time in which the change in successive NN intervals exceeds 50ms within a measurement (pNN50). Of the 798 patients, 399 were diagnosed with cancer. Cancer diagnoses were obtained via medical records one week following the measurement. Analysis of variance models were performed comparing the HRV patterns between different cancers, cancer stages (I-IV), and demographic strata. A total of 85% of the cancer patients had breast, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or respiratory cancer. The cancer patients were compared to a control non-cancer patient population with similar patient size and distributions for sex, age, body mass index, and co-morbidities. For all HRV metrics, non-cancer patients exhibited significantly higher rMSSDs (11.1 to 13.9 ms, p < 0.0001), SDNNs (22.8 to 27.7 ms, p < 0.0001), and pNN50s (6.2 to 8.1%, p < 0.0001) compared to stage I or II cancer patients. This significant trend was consistently observed across each cancer location. Similarly, compared to patients with stage III or IV cancer, non-cancer patients possessed lower HRs (-11.8 to -14.0 bpm, p < 0.0001) and higher rMSSDs (+31.7 to +32.8 ms, p < 0.0001), SDNNs (+45.2 to +45.8 ms), p < 0.0001, and pNN50s (19.2 to 21.6%, p < 0.0001). The HR and HRV patterns observed did not significantly differ between cancer locations (p = 0.96 to 1.00). The depressed HRVs observed uniformly across the most prevalent cancer locations and stages appeared to occur independent of patients' co-morbidities. This finding highlights the potentially effective use of HRV as a non-invasive tool for determining common cancer locations and their respective stages. More studies are needed to delineate the HRV patterns across different ages, between sexes and race/ethnic groups.

Systemic neurophysiological signals of auditory predictive coding.

Predictive coding framework posits that our brain continuously monitors changes in the environment and updates its predictive models, minimizing prediction errors to efficiently adapt to environmental demands. However, the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms of these predictive phenomena remain unclear. The present study aimed to explore the systemic neurophysiological correlates of predictive coding processes during passive and active auditory processing. Electroencephalography (EEG), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and autonomic nervous system (ANS) measures were analyzed using an auditory pattern-based novelty oddball paradigm. A sample of 32 healthy subjects was recruited. The results showed shared slow evoked potentials between passive and active conditions that could be interpreted as automatic predictive processes of anticipation and updating, independent of conscious attentional effort. A dissociated topography of the cortical hemodynamic activity and distinctive evoked potentials upon auditory pattern violation were also found between both conditions, whereas only conscious perception leading to imperative responses was accompanied by phasic ANS responses. These results suggest a systemic-level hierarchical reallocation of predictive coding neural resources as a function of contextual demands in the face of sensory stimulation. Principal component analysis permitted to associate the variability of some of the recorded signals.

Neurophysiology of male sexual arousal—Behavioral perspective

In the presented review, we analyzed the physiology of male sexual arousal and its relation to the motivational aspects of this behavior. We highlighted the distinction between these processes based on observable physiological and behavioral parameters. Thus, we proposed the experimentally applicable differentiation between sexual arousal (SA) and sexual motivation (SM). We propose to define sexual arousal as an overall autonomic nervous system response leading to penile erection, triggered selectively by specific sexual cues. These autonomic processes include both spinal and supraspinal neuronal networks, activated by sensory pathways including information from sexual partner and sexual context, as well as external and internal genital organs. To avoid misinterpretation of experimental data, we also propose to precise the term “sexual motivation” as all actions performed by the individual that increase the probability of sexual interactions or increase the probability of exposition to sexual context cues. Neuronal structures such as the amygdala, bed nucleus of stria terminalis, hypothalamus, nucleus raphe, periaqueductal gray, and nucleus paragigantocellularis play crucial roles in controlling the level of arousal and regulating peripheral responses via specific autonomic effectors. On the highest level of CNS, the activity of cortical structures involved in the regulation of the autonomic nervous system, such as the insula and anterior cingulate cortex, can visualize an elevated level of SA in both animal and human brains. From a preclinical perspective, we underlie the usefulness of the non-contact erection test (NCE) procedure in understanding factors influencing sexual arousal, including studies of sexual preference in animal models. Taken together results obtained by different methods, we wanted to focus attention on neurophysiological aspects that are distinctly related to sexual arousal and can be used as an objective parameter, leading to higher translational transparency between basic, preclinical, and clinical studies.

Effect of fasedienol (PH94B) pherine nasal spray and steroidal hormones on electrogram responses and autonomic nervous system activity in healthy adult volunteers.

Fasedienol (PH94B) is a pherine compound formulated as a nasal spray that is hypothesized to regulate olfactory-amygdala circuits of fear and anxiety. Fasedienol's effect on the local electrogram of nasal chemosensory neurons (EGNR) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses versus steroidal hormones and controls in healthy adults is reported. Eight males and 8 females randomly received aerosolized control (propylene glycol) and study drugs (fasedienol, 17β-estradiol, progesterone, cortisol, and testosterone, 0.4μg each in propylene glycol) onto the nasal septum mucosal lining at 30-min intervals over 2 sessions. EGNR was continuously monitored; autonomic parameters were recorded before and after administration. Fasedienol significantly increased EGNR amplitude (males: 5.0 vs. 0.6mV, p<0.001; females:5.7 vs. 0.6mV, p<0.001), and rapidly reduced respiratory rate (p<0.05), heart rate (p<0.01), and electrodermal activity (p<0.05) versus control. EGNR and ANS responses after steroidal hormone administration were similar to control. 81% reported feeling less tense/more relaxed after receiving fasedienol, but not after receiving either control or steroidal hormones. Intranasal fasedienol, but not control or steroidal hormones, activated EGNR and rapidly reduced ANS responses, consistent with sympatholytic effects. Combined with subjective reports, results suggest fasedienol may provide acute relief in anxiety conditions.

Understanding the role of emotion in decision making process: using machine learning to analyze physiological responses to visual, auditory, and combined stimulation.

Emotions significantly shape decision-making, and targeted emotional elicitations represent an important factor in neuromarketing, where they impact advertising effectiveness by capturing potential customers' attention intricately associated with emotional triggers. Analyzing biometric parameters after stimulus exposure may help in understanding emotional states. This study investigates autonomic and central nervous system responses to emotional stimuli, including images, auditory cues, and their combination while recording physiological signals, namely the electrocardiogram, blood volume pulse, galvanic skin response, pupillometry, respiration, and the electroencephalogram. The primary goal of the proposed analysis is to compare emotional stimulation methods and to identify the most effective approach for distinct physiological patterns. A novel feature selection technique is applied to further optimize the separation of four emotional states. Basic machine learning approaches are used in order to discern emotions as elicited by different kinds of stimulation. Electroencephalographic signals, Galvanic skin response and cardio-respiratory coupling-derived features provided the most significant features in distinguishing the four emotional states. Further findings highlight how auditory stimuli play a crucial role in creating distinct physiological patterns that enhance classification within a four-class problem. When combining all three types of stimulation, a validation accuracy of 49% was achieved. The sound-only and the image-only phases resulted in 52% and 44% accuracy respectively, whereas the combined stimulation of images and sounds led to 51% accuracy. Isolated visual stimuli yield less distinct patterns, necessitating more signals for relatively inferior performance compared to other types of stimuli. This surprising significance arises from limited auditory exploration in emotional recognition literature, particularly contrasted with the pleathora of studies performed using visual stimulation. In marketing, auditory components might hold a more relevant potential to significantly influence consumer choices.

Perceived discrimination, model minority stereotyping, and anxiety symptoms in chinese-heritage college students.

Perceived racial discrimination has been associated with elevated anxiety symptoms. Less is known about the mental health implications of another race-related stressor, model minority stereotyping, which is a salient experience for Chinese-heritage youth. In addition, despite theoretical considerations and indirect empirical evidence suggesting that greater autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity may index sensitivity to race-related stressors, ANS reactivity has not been examined as a moderator of links between race-related stressors and mental health. The present study investigated cross-sectional associations between self-reports of two salient race-related stressors (perceived discrimination and model minority stereotyping) and anxiety symptoms in Chinese-heritage youth, as well as whether ANS reactivity moderates these relationships. Chinese-heritage U.S. college students (N = 198, 55.6% female, 18-25 years, Mage = 20.0 years) self-reported experiences with race-related stressors. ANS reactivity (respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA] and pre-ejection period [PEP]) to a video depicting discrimination was collected on a subsample of participants (N = 103). Although both race-related stressors were positively correlated with anxiety symptoms, only perceived discrimination was uniquely associated with anxiety symptoms. Further, RSA (but not PEP) reactivity moderated the relationship between perceived discrimination and anxiety symptoms, such that associations were stronger for participants with greater RSA withdrawal. Our results replicate findings on the discrimination-anxiety link in Chinese-heritage college students, and show that model minority stereotyping is correlated with greater anxiety symptoms. Findings suggest that individuals with heightened RSA reactivity may be especially vulnerable to the adverse effect of discrimination. These findings have implications for mental health services for Chinese-heritage U.S. college students. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Autonomic nervous system responses in the intermediate band to cranial cutaneous stimulation.

Cardiovascular rhythms representing functional states of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are insufficiently reflected by the current physiological model based on low and high frequency bands (LF, HF, resp.). An intermediate (IM) frequency band generated by a brainstem pacemaker was included in systemic physiological ANS analyses of forehead skin perfusion (SP), ECG, and respiration. Data of 38 healthy participants at T0 and T1 (+1 week) before, during, and following osteopathic cranial vault hold (CVH) stimulation were analyzed including momentary frequencies of highest amplitude, amplitudes in low (0.05-0.12 Hz), IM (0.12-0.18 Hz), and high (0.18-0.4 Hz) frequency bands, and established heart rate variability (HRV) metrics. During CVH, LF interval durations increased, whereas IM/HF band durations decreased significantly. Amplitudes increased significantly in all frequency bands. A cluster analysis found one response pattern dominated by IM activity (47% of participants) with highly stable0.08 Hz oscillation to CVH, and one dominated by LF activity (0.10 Hz) at T0, increasing to IM activity at T1. Showing frequency ratios at ≈3:1, respiration was not responsible for oscillations in PPG during CVH. HRV revealed no significant responses. Rhythmic patterns in SP and respiration matched previous findings on a reticular "0.15 Hz rhythm". Involvement of baroreflex pathways is discussed as alternative explanation.