Biological psychology
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Biological psychology · Sep 2010
Examination of the dose-response relationship between pain perception and blood pressure elevations induced by isometric exercise in men and women.
The purpose of this study was to examine exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) in men and women, and whether different magnitudes of BP elevations induced by isometric exercise systematically influenced pain perception. Twenty-five men and 25 women performed isometric exercise at 25% MVC for 1-min, 3-min, and 5-min while BP and pain perception were assessed. ⋯ Pain thresholds were found to be elevated while pain ratings were lower (p<0.05) immediately following isometric exercise but not in a dose-response manner. It was concluded that isometric exercise produced EIH in men and women, and there was not a dose-response relationship between BP and EIH.
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This study examined whether post-infective fatigue syndrome (PIFS) is associated with a disturbance in bidirectional autonomic signalling resulting in heightened perception of symptoms and sensations from the body in conjunction with autonomic hyper-reactivity to perceived challenges. We studied 23 patients with PIFS and 25 healthy matched control subjects. A heartbeat discrimination task and a pressure pain threshold test were used to assess interoceptive sensitivity. ⋯ Increased interoceptive sensitivity correlated strongly with current symptoms and potentiated differences in the cardiac response to the Stroop task, which in PIFS was characterized by insensitivity to task difficulty and lack of habituation. Our results provide the first evidence of heightened interoceptive sensitivity in PIFS. Together with the distinct pattern in cardiac responsivity these findings present a picture of physiological hyper-vigilance and response inflexibility.
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Biological psychology · Sep 2010
The diurnal course of salivary alpha-amylase in nurses: an investigation of potential confounders and associations with stress.
In psychoneuroendocrinology research, salivary measures have become increasingly important. While several studies focus on determinants of salivary cortisol such as age, gender, and gynaecological variables, less research has focused on confounding variables of salivary alpha-amylase (sAA). ⋯ Only gender could be identified to have an impact on sAA, with females having a more pronounced sAA increase over the course of the day. Whereas depression, anxiety, work stress and burnout were not associated with sAA, a small negative correlation between social difficulties, measured with the Chronic Stress Screening Scale, and sAA could be identified.
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Biological psychology · May 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialMotivational and situational factors and the relationship between testosterone dynamics and human aggression during competition.
Men engage in aggression at a cost to extrinsic reward, and this behaviour is associated with a rise in testosterone. To characterize the factors underlying aggression, men were assigned to one of the four experimental conditions of a computer game in which they were provoked (points were stolen from them or not) and/or received reward for aggression (received points for aggression or not). ⋯ Moreover, individual differences in aggressive behaviour among these men were positively correlated with the extent to which they enjoyed the task and with testosterone fluctuations. These results indicate that costly aggressive behaviour is intrinsically rewarding, perhaps to regulate future interactions, and that testosterone may be a physiological marker of such reward value.
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Biological psychology · May 2010
Aging diurnal rhythms and chronic stress: Distinct alteration of diurnal rhythmicity of salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol.
The present study assessed diurnal profiles of salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), proposed as a marker of autonomic activity, and salivary cortisol in competitive ballroom dancers as well as age- and sex-matched controls to investigate age-related changes of basal activity and potential chronic psychosocial stress-related alterations. According to the Allostatic Load (AL) hypothesis of a cumulative wear and tear of the body we expected to see physiological accumulation of the effects of stress and age especially pronounced in older dancers. Dancers and controls collected five saliva samples throughout the day. ⋯ In conclusion, higher overall output of sAA in older adults is in line with the phenomenon of a sympathetic "drive" with increasing age. Furthermore, a lower output of sAA in people who are more physical active is in line with the hypothesis of an exercise-induced decrease of sympathetic activity. Overall, our study does not support the AL hypothesis, but rather highlights the importance of regular physical activity and social environment in promoting health.