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Article
Utility of Baroreflex Sensitivity as a Marker of Stress
Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making
  • Amanda A. Anderson, Iowa State University
  • Nir Keren, Iowa State University
  • Andrew Lilja, Iowa State University
  • Kevin Godby, Iowa State University
  • Stephen B. Gilbert, Iowa State University
  • Warren D. Franke, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Submitted Manuscript
Publication Date
6-1-2016
DOI
10.1177/1555343416653887
Abstract

Presently, adaptive systems use various cognitive and cardiovascular measures to evaluate the functional state of the operator. One marker that has been largely ignored as an assessment tool is baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). This study examined the extent to which BRS changed in response to acute psychological and physical stressors. A total of 20 participants underwent 6-min exposures to a psychological stressor and a physical stressor. Baroreceptor sensitivity, blood pressure, heart rate, heart rate variability, stroke volume, cardiac output, mean blood pressure, total peripheral resistance, left ventricular ejection time, and pre-ejection period were continuously measured at rest and throughout the testing period. Compared to rest, BRS significantly decreased during both the psychological and physical stressors. BRS was reduced more with the psychological stressor than the physical stressor. Heart rate and systolic blood pressure significantly increased above rest during the psychological stressor but not during the physical stressor. There were no significant differences from rest or between stressors for the other physiological markers. BRS was more robustly responsive than other cardiovascular measures commonly used to assess the psychophysiological response to stress, suggesting BRS is a useful marker for evaluating operator functional state during psychological and physical tasks.

Comments

This is a manuscript of an article from Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making 10 (2016): 167, doi: 10.1177/1555343416653887. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Amanda A. Anderson, Nir Keren, Andrew Lilja, Kevin Godby, et al.. "Utility of Baroreflex Sensitivity as a Marker of Stress" Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making Vol. 10 Iss. 2 (2016) p. 167 - 177
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/warren_franke/13/