Cardiovascular patterns associated with threat and challenge appraisals: a within-subjects analysis

Psychophysiology. 2002 May;39(3):292-302. doi: 10.1017/s0048577201393046.

Abstract

Previous studies demonstrated distinct cardiovascular patterns associated with threat and challenge appraisals for groups of participants. We extend these results by assessing whether appraisals continue to be associated with these cardiovascular response patterns within an individual as appraisals change. Participants completed four verbal mental arithmetic tasks for which they made appraisals before and after each task. Cardiac reactivity and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were calculated for the first and last minutes of each task, and the number of responses and percent correct were measured for each task. In line with our prediction, pretask appraisals were related to some task-related cardiac responses across the four tasks. In addition, task-related cardiovascular reactivity and behaviors both influenced appraisals following the task. Our findings suggest that an idiographic analysis of appraisals, cardiovascular physiology, and task-related behaviors provides a richer understanding of the appraisal process and reveals sex differences deserving further assessment.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anxiety / physiopathology*
  • Anxiety / psychology*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Hemodynamics / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parasympathetic Nervous System / physiology
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Vascular Resistance / physiology