Associations between the cortisol awakening response and heart rate variability
Tobias Stalder1, Phil Evans, Frank Hucklebridge
1Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, 309 Regent Street, London W1B 2UW, UK.
Psychoneuroendocrinology
|August 25, 2010
Summary
The cortisol awakening response (CAR) correlates with long-term cardiovascular traits but not with immediate changes in heart rate or heart rate variability upon waking. This suggests distinct underlying mechanisms for acute and chronic cardiovascular regulation during morning awakening.
Area of Science:
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Autonomic Nervous System Research
Background:
- Morning awakening triggers a significant cortisol awakening response (CAR) and cardiovascular (CV) activation, involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system.
- Both CAR and heart rate variability (HRV) are linked to psychosocial factors and health outcomes, suggesting potential shared regulatory pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the CAR and both immediate awakening-induced cardiovascular changes and stable, trait-like cardiovascular measures.
- To explore associations between CAR, cardiovascular activity, perceived stress, and emotion regulation.
Main Methods:
- Forty-three healthy participants underwent salivary cortisol measurements and continuous heart interbeat interval (IBI) recordings over two consecutive days, including peri-awakening periods.
- Data analysis focused on awakening-induced changes in cortisol, heart rate (HR), and HRV, as well as steady-state measures and self-report stress and emotion regulation data.
Main Results:
- Significant awakening-induced changes in cortisol, HR, and HRV were observed, but no associations were found between these concurrent changes.
- Awakening-induced cardiovascular changes did not correlate with perceived stress or emotion regulation difficulties.
- The CAR showed significant positive correlations with steady-state HR and negative correlations with steady-state HRV.
Conclusions:
- The CAR is associated with stable, trait-like cardiovascular activity (HR and HRV) but not with immediate, concurrent autonomic nervous system adjustments upon awakening.
- These findings suggest that while the CAR shares long-term associations with cardiovascular regulation, its acute relationship with awakening-induced cardiac autonomic activation is limited.
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