Autonomic Nervous System Measures Research Articles

Food Insecurity is Associated with Autonomic Dysfunction Among Latinos with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract Objectives Food insecurity (FI) is higher among Latinos than non-Hispanic Whites and associated with risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction increases mortality in diabetes. We examined FI and ANS function among Latinos with T2D. Methods Participants were drawn from the CALMS-D (Community Health Workers Assisting Latinos Manage Stress and Diabetes) stress management intervention trial. Inclusion: age 18 years, Latino or Hispanic, Spanish speaking, ambulatory status, T2D 6 months, A1c > 7.0%. Exclusion: medical or psychiatric instability; pain or dysfunction in hands precluding handgrip testing. Measures: FI was assessed with the 6-item US household food security survey module; affirmative responses to > = 1 questions was coded as FI. Six autonomic measures were scored 0 = normal or 1 = abnormal based on published cutoffs and then summed for a total ANS dysfunction index. ANS measures and their normal cutoffs were: 1) metanephrine <350 ug/day; 2) normetanephrine <600 ug/day; 3) cortisol 50–190 ug/day, all from 24-hour urine specimens; 4) 24-hour heart rate variability as reflected in standard deviation of the normal-to-normal (SDNN) heart rate acquired with 3-channel, 7-lead ambulatory electrocardiogram (holter) monitors, 149 +/–39; 5) difference between the highest diastolic blood pressure (DBP) during sustained handgrip and the average DBP at rest, >15 mmHg; and, 6) difference between baseline supine and the minimal BP after standing up, normal = decline in SBP <=20 mmHg and DBP <=10 mmHg. Results N = 35 participated, n = 23 (65.7%) were women, age M = 61.6 (SD = 11.2) years, A1c M = 8.5% (SD = 1.6) and n = 20 (57.1%) used insulin. N = 22 (62.9%) reported FI and n = 25 (71.4%) had at least one abnormal ANS measure. In t-tests, participants with FI had a higher ANS dysfunction index (M = 1.5, SD = 0.9) than patients who were food secure (M = 0.7, SD = 0.8), P = 0.02). Total autonomic index was not related to A1c or insulin use. Conclusions In this Latino sample with T2D, FI was associated with greater ANS dysfunction. Increasing food security may confer autonomic benefits. Funding Sources Supported by National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities grant R01MD005879 and American Diabetes Association grant 7–13-TS-31.

Evaluation of infrared thermography as a non-invasive method of measuring the autonomic nervous response in sheep.

Eye temperature measured using infrared thermography (IRT) can be used as a non-invasive measure of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity in cattle. The objective of this study was to evaluate if changes in eye temperature (measured using IRT) can be used to non-invasively measure ANS activity in sheep. Twenty, 2 to 4-year-old, Romney ewes were randomly assigned to receive either epinephrine (EPI) or physiological saline (SAL) for 5 min administered via jugular catheter (n = 10 ewes/treatment). Eye temperature (°C) was recorded continuously using IRT for approximately 25 min before and 20 min after the start of infusion. Heart rate and heart rate variability, measured using the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and the standard deviation of all inter-beat intervals (SDNN), were recorded for 5 min before and up to 10 min after the start of infusion. Blood samples were taken before and after the infusion period to measure plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol and packed cell volume (PCV) concentrations. During the infusion period, maximum eye temperature was on average higher (P<0.05) in sheep that received epinephrine than those that received saline. On average, heart rate was higher (SAL: 87.5 beats/min, EPI: 123.2 beats/min, SED = 7.07 beats/min; P<0.05), and RMSSD (SAL: 55.3 ms, EPI: 17.3 ms, SED = 14.18 ms) and SDNN (SAL: 54.3 ms, EPI: 21.5 ms, SED = 10.00 ms) lower (P<0.05) in ewes during the 5 min post-infusion period compared with ewes that received saline. An infusion of epinephrine resulted in higher geometric mean epinephrine (P<0.05) and cortisol (P<0.05) but not norepinephrine (P>0.05) concentrations in ewes compared to an infusion of saline. PCV concentrations were higher (P<0.001) by 7 ± 1.0% (mean±SED) in ewes after an epinephrine infusion. These results suggest that heart rate variability is a sensitive, non-invasive method that can be used to measure ANS activity in sheep, whereas change in eye temperature measured using IRT is a less sensitive method.

0365 Sleep Quality Associated with Perceived Stress and Autonomic Nervous System Measures: Implications for Sleep and Health Disparities

Abstract Introduction It is not known whether the restorative nature of sleep mediates the effects of perceived stress on the autonomic nervous system (ANS).This study explored the relationships between stress and autonomic biomarkers, and aimed to assess potential mediation by sleep quality. Methods A secondary data analysis was performed using data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS, MIDUS II &amp; Milwaukee). Multiple regression models examined the association between perceived stress using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and two autonomic biomarkers-heart rate variability(HRV) (n=888) and urine catecholamines (n=1,058). The roles of sleep quality (using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)) and race/ethnicity were explored in post-hoc analyses. Results No statistically significant relationships were found between PSS and autonomic stress measures. However, perceived stress (b=0.09;p&amp;lt;0.01; 95% CI=0.06,0.13) and the covariate Likert stress scale at baseline (b=0.13;p=&amp;lt;0.04;95% CI=0.005,0.26) were significantly related to PSQI. Post hoc analyses explored racial differences. Baseline stress, PSS, depressive symptoms and PSQI scores were significantly higher in Blacks/African-Americans than Non-Hispanic Whites. Yet, Blacks/African-Americans had lower sympathetic responses (epinephrine means 1.56 vs 2.00;t=-4.82;p&amp;lt;0.01, norepinephrine means, 24.15 vs 27.30;t=3.14;p&amp;lt;0.01) and higher parasympathetic responses (lnHF, natural log of High Frequency HRV means 5.48 vs 4.75; t=6.17;p&amp;lt;0.01), compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. Conclusion Blacks/African-Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites had significant differences in their sleep quality and ANS biomarkers. Sleep quality may play a role in the effect of discrimination on mental and physical health. Different stress sources may lead to variable expression in biomarkers of autonomic tone. Future prospective studies incorporating longitudinal biomarkers and alternative statistical models will help elucidate the relationships among stress, sleep, and the pathways linking these factors to poor health, and effect targeted treatments. Support The MIDUS I study was supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network. MIDUS II was supported by the NIA(P01-AG020166), M01-RR023942(Georgetown), M01-RR00865(UCLA) and 1UL1RR025011(UW) grants. Many thanks to Dr. James McNally, Dr. Barry Radler, Dr. Gayle Love and Suzanne Hodge for access to the Milwaukee dataset.

Lower Cardiac Vagal Activity Predicts Self-Reported Difficulties With Emotion Regulation in Adolescents With ADHD.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relation between cardiac vagal activity (CVA), a measure of autonomic nervous system (ANS) flexibility, and self-reported emotion regulation (ER) difficulties in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and controls.MethodsThe sample comprised 11–17-year-old adolescents with ADHD (n=34) and controls (n = 33). Multiple linear regression analyses investigated the relation between CVA, as indexed by high frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), and ER difficulties as assessed by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Supplemental analyses were performed in ADHD and control groups separately. Analyses assessed effects of body mass index (BMI), physical activity levels, and HF peak as a surrogate of respiration on CVA.ResultsLower CVA was associated with ER difficulties, and specifically with limited access to effective ER strategies. When investigating the relation between CVA and ER in the ADHD and control groups separately, there was a tendency of lower CVA predicting limited access to effective ER strategies in the ADHD group, and not in the control group.ConclusionThe results suggest that lower CVA, i.e., reduced ANS flexibility, in adolescents with ADHD and controls is associated with self-reported ER difficulties, and specifically with limited access to effective ER strategies. There was a tendency for lower CVA to predict limited ER strategies only in the adolescents with ADHD and not controls.

Autonomic modulation networks in schizophrenia: The relationship between heart rate variability and functional and structural connectivity in the brain

Heart rate variability (HRV), a measurement of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, has been found reduced in schizophrenia. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which is important in regulating the ANS, is structurally and functionally affected in schizophrenia. We investigate the relationship between HRV and functional and structural connectivity of the ACC in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. Ten patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and ten healthy controls were recruited. Heart rate was monitored in a naturalistic out-of-clinic setting. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, including resting-state functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging. Patients with schizophrenia had significantly lower HRV compared to controls. A positive correlation between ACC connectivity with the bilateral cerebellum and HRV was found in the patients. HRV was also positively correlated with amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in the cerebellum, and with axial diffusivity in the middle cerebellar peduncle, in the patients. There was a significant negative relationship between antipsychotic medication dosage, HRV and all neuroimaging measures related to HRV. We conclude that ACC connectivity seems to be affected in schizophrenia, both structurally and functionally, and that the ACC-cerebellum connectivity, as well as cerebellar function, is associated with ANS regulation in patients with schizophrenia.

Autonomic Nervous System and Cognitive Impairment in Older Patients: Evidence From Long-Term Heart Rate Variability in Real-Life Setting.

Background: In geriatric age, cognitive impairment and cardiovascular disorders are frequent comorbidities. Age-related anatomical and functional cardiac changes, including the autonomic system, could interfere with the control of different cognitive domains. Therefore, we assess the relationship between long-term heart rate variability (HRV), as a measure of autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning, and cognitive performance in elderly patients representative of outpatients in a real-life setting.Methods: Of 155 elderly outpatients (aged >65 years) screened, 117 enrolled patients underwent anthropometric evaluation, cardiac assessment by 12-lead electrocardiogram, 24-h ECG recording, and blood pressure (BP) measurement, as well as global cognitive evaluation by a standardized multidimensional assessment, including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment test (MoCA). HRV analysis was performed on 24-h ECG recordings focusing on time-domain indices [Standard deviation of the NN intervals (SDNN), standard deviations of 5-min mean values of the NN intervals for each 5-min interval (SDANN), and root mean squares of successive differences of the NN intervals (RMSSD)] and on frequency-domain measurements [heart rate (HR), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and LF/HF]. Multivariate linear analysis was used to explore the influence of the HRV significant variables on MMSE and MoCA test values.Results: The MMSE and MoCA scores were both significantly and positively correlated with the sympathetic system parameters (SDNN, SDANN, LF, and LF/HF ratio), but not with the parasympathetic system parameters (RMSSD and HF). Multivariate analysis confirms this relationship.Conclusions: Our results show that, in a representative real-life community elderly population, an increased sympathetic activity, but not decreased vagal activity, is associated with better cognitive performances. These results support the sympathetic autonomic function, in that the relationship between better cognitive performances and a moderate prevalence of autonomic function appears dependent on long-term changes in heart rate, mediated by sympathetic activation.

Emotion dysregulation and resting-state autonomic function in adolescent borderline personality disorder-A multimodal assessment approach.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by persistent emotion dysregulation (ED), and ED is one of the core features of BPD. In recent years, research aimed to identify distinct patterns of ED characteristic of patients with BPD. These efforts comprised translational approaches, including psychophysiological measures. Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction, indexed by reduced resting-state heart rate variability (HRV), is suggested to be a psychophysiological marker of ED. Reduced HRV is seen in patients with a variety of psychiatric disorders, including adolescents with depression and BPD. No previous study, to the best of our knowledge, addressed the association between ANS function and different measures of ED in adolescents with BPD. Here, we used a multimodal assessment of ED (self-reports, interviews, ambulatory assessment) in a sample of 43 adolescent patients (95.4% female, Mage = 15.5 years), fulfilling at least 3 BPD criteria. Replicating earlier findings, greater BPD symptom severity was significantly related to reduced resting-state HRV and increased heart rate. However, other measures of ED and mean affect were unrelated to ANS function. Findings suggest that ANS dysfunction maps to symptom severity in general rather than specific symptomatology (such as ED) in adolescents with BPD. Implications for the use of ANS measures in clinical practice and directions for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Maternal separation and contact to a stranger more than reunion affect the autonomic nervous system in the mother-child dyad: ANS measurements during Strange Situation Procedure in mother-child dyad

BackgroundThe autonomic nervous system (ANS) processes underlying attachment-related mother-child interactions are not well understood. We aimed to describe and compare the responsivity of the ANS for mothers and their infants during the different phases of the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP). MethodsContinuous measurements of the sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) branches of the ANS were obtained simultaneously in 91 mothers and their infants (range 10–15 months). Heart rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), pre-ejection period (PEP) and left ventricular ejection time (LVET), were calculated for the baseline period (e1) and seven subsequent episodes (e2–e8) of the SSP. ResultsThe largest difference between the mother and infant was during e7, when the stranger went into the room where the infant was while the mother waited outside the room. Mothers showed reduced SNS-activity or stress reduction while the child showed PNS withdrawal or increased stress response. Additionally, LVET was found to be a marker for SNS changes in the one-year-old infant during SSP. ConclusionMothers and infants showed different stress-related ANS responses during e7. Since this study showed that simultaneous measurement of ANS responses in mother-child dyads during the SSP is feasible, future studies can assess both mother and child stress responses in different contexts. The measure of LVET may be a valid SNS-reactivity measure in the one-year-olds. Since the separation episode e7 led to the strongest ANS responses, future studies might assess stress responses in more normative circumstances, such as child care programs.

2284-PUB: Food Insecurity and Autonomic Dysfunction among Latinos with Type 2 Diabetes

Aims: Food insecurity (FI) is higher among Latinos than non-Hispanic Whites and associated with risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction increases mortality in diabetes. We examined FI and ANS function among Low-income Latinos with T2D enrolled in a parent stress management trial. Methods: Inclusion: age &amp;gt; 18 years, Latino or Hispanic, Spanish speaking, ambulatory status, T2D &amp;gt; 6 months, A1c&amp;gt;7.0%. Exclusion: medical or psychiatric instability; pain or dysfunction in hands precluding handgrip testing. Measures: FI was assessed with the 6-item U.S. household food security survey module; affirmative responses to &amp;gt;=1 question was coded as FI. Six autonomic measures were scored 0=normal or 1=abnormal based on published cutoffs and then summed for a total ANS dysfunction index. ANS measures and their normal cutoffs were: 1) metanephrine &amp;lt;350 ug/day; 2) normetanephrine &amp;lt;600 ug/day; 3) cortisol 50-190 ug/day, all from 24-hour urine specimens; 4) 24-hour heart rate variability as reflected in standard deviation of the normal-to-normal (SDNN) heart rate acquired with 3-channel, 7-lead ambulatory electrocardiogram (holter) monitors, 149 +/-39; 5) difference between the highest diastolic blood pressure (DBP) during sustained handgrip and the average DBP at rest, &amp;gt;15 mmHg; and, 6) difference between baseline supine and the minimal BP after standing up, normal = decline in SBP &amp;lt;= 20 mmHg and DBP &amp;lt;= 10 mmHg. Results: N=35 participated, n=23 (65.7%) were women, age M=61.6 (SD=11.2) years, A1c M=8.5% (SD=1.6) and n=20 (57.1%) used insulin. N=22 (62.9%) reported FI and n=25 (71.4%) had at least one abnormal ANS measure. In t-tests, participants with FI had a higher ANS dysfunction index (M=1.5, SD=0.9) than patients who were food secure (M=0.7, SD=0.8), p=0.02. Total ANS index was not related to A1c or insulin use. Discussion: In this Latino sample with T2D, FI was associated with greater ANS dysfunction. Increasing food security may confer autonomic benefits. Disclosure K. Seng: None. R. Feinn: None. A. Bermudez-Millan: None. R. Perez-Escamilla: None. J. Wagner: None. Funding American Diabetes Association (7-13-TS-31 to J.W.); National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01MD005879)

The central autonomic network at rest: Uncovering functional MRI correlates of time-varying autonomic outflow

Peripheral measures of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity at rest have been extensively employed as putative biomarkers of autonomic cardiac control. However, a comprehensive characterization of the brain-based central autonomic network (CAN) sustaining cardiovascular oscillations at rest is missing, limiting the interpretability of these ANS measures as biomarkers of cardiac control.We evaluated combined cardiac and fMRI data from 34 healthy subjects from the Human Connectome Project to detect brain areas functionally linked to cardiovagal modulation at rest. Specifically, we combined voxel-wise fMRI analysis with instantaneous heartbeat and spectral estimates obtained from inhomogeneous linear point-process models.We found exclusively negative associations between cardiac parasympathetic activity at rest and a widespread network including bilateral anterior insulae, right dorsal middle and left posterior insula, right parietal operculum, bilateral medial dorsal and ventrolateral posterior thalamic nuclei, anterior and posterior mid-cingulate cortex, medial frontal gyrus/pre-supplementary motor area. Conversely, we found only positive associations between instantaneous heart rate and brain activity in areas including frontopolar cortex, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, anterior, middle and posterior cingulate cortices, superior frontal gyrus, and precuneus.Taken together, our data suggests a much wider involvement of diverse brain areas in the CAN at rest than previously thought, which could reflect a differential (both spatially and directionally) CAN activation according to the underlying task. Our insight into CAN activity at rest also allows the investigation of its impairment in clinical populations in which task-based fMRI is difficult to obtain (e.g., comatose patients or infants).

FNIRS Evidence for Recognizably Different Positive Emotions.

The behavioral differentiation of positive emotions has recently been studied in terms of their discrete adaptive functions or appraising profiles. Some preliminary neurophysiological evidences have been found with electroencephalography or autonomic nervous system measurements such as heart rate, skin conductance, etc. However, the brain’s hemodynamic responses to different positive emotions remain largely unknown. In the present study, the functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technique was employed. With this tool, we for the first time reported recognizable discrete positive emotions using fNIRS signals. Thirteen participants watched 30 emotional video clips to elicit 10 typical kinds of positive emotions (joy, gratitude, serenity, interest, hope, pride, amusement, inspiration, awe, and love), and their frontal neural activities were simultaneously recorded with a 24-channel fNIRS system. The multidimensional scaling analysis of participants’ subjective ratings on these 10 positive emotions revealed three distinct clusters, which could be interpreted as “playfulness” for amusement, joy, interest, “encouragement” for awe, gratitude, hope, inspiration, pride, and “harmony” for love, serenity. Hemodynamic responses to these three positive emotion clusters showed distinct patterns, and HbO-based individual-level binary classifications between them achieved an averaged accuracy of 73.79 ± 11.49% (77.56 ± 7.39% for encouragement vs. harmony, 73.29 ± 11.87% for playfulness vs. harmony, 70.51 ± 13.96% for encouragement vs. harmony). Benefited from fNIRS’s high portability, low running cost and the relative robustness against motion and electrical artifacts, our findings provided support for implementing a more fine-grained emotion recognition system with subdivided positive emotion categories.

Ultrafine particles and ozone perturb norepinephrine clearance rather than centrally generated sympathetic activity in humans

Cardiovascular risk rapidly increased following exposure to air pollution. Changes in human autonomic regulation have been implicated based on epidemiological associations between exposure estimates and indirect autonomic nervous system measurements. We conducted a mechanistic study to test the hypothesis that, in healthy older individuals, well-defined experimental exposure to ultrafine carbon particles (UFP) increases sympathetic nervous system activity and more so with added ozone (O3). Eighteen participants (age >50 years, 6 women) were exposed to filtered air (Air), UFP, and UFP + O3 combination for 3 hours during intermittent bicycle ergometer training in a randomized, crossover, double-blind fashion. Two hours following exposure, respiration, electrocardiogram, blood pressure, and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) were recorded at supine rest, during deep breathing, and during a Valsalva manoeuvre. Catechols and inflammatory marker levels were measured in venous blood samples. Induced sputum was obtained 3.5 h after exposure. Combined exposure to UFP + O3 but not UFP alone, caused a significant increase in sputum neutrophils and circulating leucocytes. Norepinephrine was modestly increased while the ratio between plasma dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG) and norepinephrine levels, a marker for norepinephrine clearance, was reduced with UFP + O3. Resting MSNA was not different (47 ± 12 with Air, 47 ± 14 with UFP, and 45 ± 14 bursts/min with UFP + O3). Indices of parasympathetic heart rate control were unaffected by experimental air pollution. Our study suggests that combined exposure to modest UFP and O3 levels increases peripheral norepinephrine availability through decreased clearance rather than changes in central autonomic activity. Pulmonary inflammatory response may have perturbed pulmonary endothelial norepinephrine clearance.

An Integrated Wearable Sensor for Unobtrusive Continuous Measurement of Autonomic Nervous System

Advancements in miniaturized electronics and smart sensors combined with a broad platform of smart phones, big data, cloud service, and wireless communication have not only empowered wearable technology, they have also increased users life expectancy. For example, a wearable system provides unobtrusive ambulatory, continuous, ubiquitous health measurement, and real-time solution for patients physical without hampering the natural movement of the wearer. However, the ability to measure one's Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) using wearable biosensors in healthcare applications has been limited due to several challenges related to a lack in wearability, accuracy, reliability, and low-power consumption. In this paper, we presented a novel wearable ring sensor for the continuous measurement of four ANS activities: 1) electrodermal activity; 2) heart rate; 3) skin temperature; and 4) locomotion. Detailed information is given regarding the development of the proposed ring sensor followed by a discussion of the evaluation that was done utilizing the wearable sensor on volunteers to gather data. Specifically, volunteers wore the ring sensor while being simultaneously monitored with real-time telemetry, the sensor values are processed and analyzed. This paper is a continuation and extension of earlier work by the authors. New validation, experimental results, and development of the mobile application have been added to improve the previous system. The experiment demonstrated accurate results, and data were collected from 43 participants of diverse age, body mass, height, and race. Additionally, to evaluate the performance of the developed ring sensor, we compared the results with a state-of-the-art open source device. This paper aims to improve the worn biomedical sensor market, specifically when it comes to size and accuracy of worn sensors.

Heart Rate Variability: A Potential Tool for Monitoring Immunomodulatory Effects of Parenteral Fish Oil Feeding in Patients With Sepsis.

Fish oil, rich in the very-long chain omega (ω)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), has been found to have immunomodulatory effects in different groups of critically ill patients. In addition, its parenteral administration seems to attenuate the inflammatory response within 2 to 3 days. The activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway has been suggested to mediate such immunoregulatory effects. As different experimental studies have convincingly illustrated that enhanced vagal tone can decrease pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, novel monitoring tools of its activity at the bedside could be developed, to evaluate nutritional manipulation of immune response in the critically ill. Heart rate variability (HRV) is the variability of R-R series in the electrocardiogram and could be a promising surrogate marker of immune response and its modulation during fish oil feeding, rich in ω-3 PUFAs. Heart rate variability is an indirect measure of autonomic nervous system (ANS) output, reflecting mainly fluctuations in ANS activity. Through HRV analysis, different “physiomarkers” can be estimated that could be used as early and more accurate “smart alarms” because they are based on high-frequency measurements and are much more easy to get at the bedside. On the contrary, various “biomarkers” such as cytokines exhibit marked interdependence, pleiotropy, and their plasma concentrations fluctuate from day to day in patients with sepsis. In this respect, an inverse relation between different HRV components and inflammatory biomarkers has been observed in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock, whereas a beneficial effect of ω-3 PUFAs on HRV has been demonstrated in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Consequently, in this article, we suggest that a beneficial effect of ω-3 PUFAs on HRV and clinical outcome in patients with sepsis merits further investigation and could be tested in future clinical trials as a real-time monitoring tool of nutritional manipulation of the inflammatory response in the critically ill.

Effects of a Single-Dose of Mind-Body Practice on the Heart Rate Variability, Brain Activity and Shooting Performance in Archers: A Pilot Study

Objective: Factors affecting performance of archery are categorized into psychological, skill, and fitness perspectives. Increase in attention, relaxation and parasympathetic system activity is believed to enhance the shooting performance of archers during competition. This pilot study aims to investigate the effects of single-dose of Tai Chi practice on archer’s performance and the feasibility of an investigation protocol under a competition scenario. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a crossover study design. Pre- and post-intervention measurements were conducted to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi practice on the archer’s autonomic nervous system activity, attention and relaxation through electroencephalography investigation, and shooting performance when compared with stretching as control. Results: The protocol of the study was found to be feasible during a competition setting. No significant difference was detected in the outcome measures under the two intervention conditions. Participants after practicing Tai Chi were found to improve significantly in their shooting performance (p = 0.021). Conclusion: This pilot study showed that a real-time measurement of autonomic nervous system and brain wave activities in the competition field was feasible and it did not hinder the archers’ performance. There was a significant improvement observed in the shooting performance of archers after Tai Chi practice when compared with baseline. The findings of this pilot study provide the basis for the conduction of a larger RCT study to examine the potential beneficial effects of Tai Chi practice on archers.

Medical Correlates of Chronic Multisymptom Illness in Gulf War Veterans

BackgroundChronic multisymptom illness (CMI) is more prevalent among deployed than nondeployed veterans from the first Gulf War. Objective physiologic markers of CMI are lacking. The purpose of this study is to determine whether measurable abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system or hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis would distinguish CMI cases (CMI+) from controls (CMI-) among deployed veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional case-control cohort study that examined deployed veterans who participated in the Phase III study: National Health Survey of Gulf War Veterans and Their Families. Autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis function-related measures included: 24-hour heart-rate variability, urinary catecholamines and cortisol, hypertension, insulin sensitivity, dyslipidemia, body fat, bone mineral density, and ultrasensitive C-reactive protein. ResultsVeterans of the first Gulf War with CMI (n = 73) and without the condition (n = 111) were studied. Sociodemographic characteristics were similar. Veterans with CMI reported poorer mental and physical functioning, greater use of prescription medications, and more nonroutine clinic visits. These veterans were also more likely to have fibromyalgia syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, metabolic syndrome, and among males, a larger waist-to-hip ratio. Lower values for a nonlinear heart-rate-variability parameter—the short-term fractal scaling exponent (DFA1), reflecting an increased randomness of beat-to-beat changes in heart rate—were observed in veterans with CMI than those veterans without it (1.28±0.16vs 1.35±0.15; p=0.005). Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function measures were similar between the two groups. ConclusionIn this cohort of deployed veterans from the first Gulf War, we identified abnormal heart-rate variability in veterans with CMI compared to veterans without the condition, which suggests abnormal functioning of the autonomic nervous system and possible long-term cardiovascular effects.

Using both emotional responses and sensory attribute intensities to predict consumer liking and preference toward vegetable juice products

Our previous research found that a combination of sensory attribute intensity and emotional responses helps in achieving better understanding of consumer acceptance and preference for basic taste solutions. By applying this finding to beverage samples, this study aimed to develop an optimum model of predicting either overall liking or preference of vegetable juice products based on sensory attribute intensities and emotional responses. One hundred participants (50 females) were asked to look at, smell, and taste five vegetable juice samples. Their emotional responses to each sample were measured through a combination of self-reported emotions, facial expressions, and autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses. Their overall liking and perceived intensities of sensory attributes were also measured. After a break, participants re-tasted all samples and ranked them according to preference. The results showed that emotional responses measured using a self-reported emotion questionnaire and facial expression analysis, along with perceived sensory intensities, performed best in predicting overall liking, while ANS measures made only limited contribution. However, the amount of overall variation attributed to these independent predictors was low in terms of preference rank. Finally, a majority of independent predictors showed neither differences between test and retest sessions nor interactions between session and test product over a period of two weeks. In conclusion, our findings provide empirical evidence that a combination of sensory intensities and emotional responses can better predict consumer acceptance of commercially-available vegetable juice products.

A multi-componential methodology for exploring emotions in learning

Studies on emotions in learning are often based on interviews conducted after the learning. Therefore, these do not capture the multi-componential nature of emotions and how emotions are related to the process of learning. We see emotions as dimensional and multi-componential responses to a personally meaningful events and situation. In this methodologically frontline study we developed a multi-componential methodology, which provides complementary information about emotions during learning. In this study, by using a within subject design of one person, we focused on emotions during the professional identity learning. In a laboratory setting, the subject was shown personally meaningful video extracts from a learning situation she had participated earlier. The data were gathered by using (i) self-reports of emotions via the Emotion Circle (EC) online assessment, (ii) measures of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity via Electro-Dermal Activity (EDA) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV), (iii) behavioural registration of facial expression and gaze, and (iv) the Stimulated Recall Interview (SRI). Self-reports of emotions via EC, as well as the emotion-driven SRI were found to be productive, not only in detailing and explaining emotions experienced during watching the videos, but also in bringing about reflective learning and novel insight. EDA and HRV provided complementary information from the subject’s ANS activity during the learning process. EDA seemed to be a valid indicator of active and agentic learning, while HRV was found to be a promising indicator of creative and reflective learning.

Sugar-sweetened beverages intake is associated with blood pressure and sympathetic nervous system activation in children

Research in adults shows high intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) increases blood pressure (BP), however evidence in children is scarce and inconclusive. No studies have investigated autonomic nervous system (ANS) activation due to SSBs in children. Our aim was to investigate the associations between SSBs intake, BP and ANS activation in children. Cross-sectional data collected in 2008-2010at age 5/6 (n=2519) and in 2015-2016at age 11/12 (n=769) years in the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development-study were analyzed in 2017. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), as well as pre-ejection period (PEP; sympathetic activation) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA; parasympathetic activation) were measured during supine position. SSBs intake was self-reported. After adjustments for covariates, including weight status, no associations between SSBs intake, BP and ANS measures were found at age 5/6. At age 11/12, one serving/day increase in SSBs was associated with 0.8mmHg increase in SBP (95%CI:0.4; 1.2), 0.3mmHg increase in DBP (0.0; 0.5) and 0.9 msec decrease in PEP (-1.5;-0.2). Children in the highest SSBs tertile had an increase of 2.3mmHg in SBP (0.7; 4.0) and a decrease of 3.6 msec in PEP (-6.7;-0.6) compared to children in the lowest tertile. In children aged 11/12, high intake of SSBs was associated with increased BP, which might be due to increased sympathetic nervous system activation. Importantly, these associations were independent of weight status.

Non-linear dynamics of heart rate variability during incremental cycling exercise

ABSTRACTWithin the last years complex models of cardiovascular regulation and exercise fatigue have implemented heart rate variability (HRV) as a measure of autonomic nervous system. Using detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) to assess heart rate correlation properties, the present study examines the influence of exercise intensity on total variability and complexity in non-linear dynamics of HRV. Sixteen cyclists performed a graded exercise test on a bicycle ergometer. HRV time domain measures and fractal correlation properties were analyzed using short-term scaling exponent alpha1 of DFA. Amplitude and complexity of HRV parameters decreased significantly. DFA-alpha1 increased from rest to low exercise intensity and showed an almost linear decrease from higher intensities until exhaustion. These findings support a qualitative change in self-organized heart rate regulation from a complex autonomic control at rest and low intensities towards a breakdown of the interaction in control mechanisms with non-autonomic heart rate control dominating at high intensities.