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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
05:52
Hyponeophagia: A Measure of Anxiety in the Mouse
Published on: May 17, 2011
Anxiety increases acid-induced esophageal hyperalgesia
Abhishek Sharma1, Lukas Van Oudenhove, Peter Paine
1Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, United Kingdom.
Psychosomatic Medicine
|September 16, 2010
Summary
Anxiety amplifies acid-induced esophageal hyperalgesia by facilitating central sensitization. This study offers a new model for investigating anxiety's impact on esophageal pain and testing therapies.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- Anxiety exacerbates visceral hyperalgesia following gastrointestinal injury.
- Esophageal acidification can induce hyperalgesia through spinal dorsal horn neuron sensitization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of anxiety on acid-induced hyperalgesia in the esophagus.
Main Methods:
- Healthy volunteers underwent mood induction (anxiety or neutral) with autonomic monitoring.
- Esophageal and foot pain thresholds were measured before and after acid infusion during different mood states.
- A crossover design was used with random assignment of anxiety or neutral mood induction.
Main Results:
- Anxiety induction significantly increased anxiety scores, blood pressure, and sympathetic activity, while reducing parasympathetic measures.
- Anxiety induction led to significantly greater acid-induced esophageal hyperalgesia compared to neutral mood induction.
- No significant differences in autonomic measures were observed during acid infusion between anxiety and neutral mood conditions.
Conclusions:
- Anxiety induction enhances acid-induced esophageal hyperalgesia, indicating a role in central sensitization of the esophagus.
- This research establishes a novel model for studying anxiety's effects on esophageal pain.
- The findings may inform the development of therapeutic strategies for anxiety-related esophageal hyperalgesia.
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