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Cognitive activity and cutaneous blood flow.

J K Wilkin¹, K Trotter

¹Dermatology Section, McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center, Richmond.

Archives of Dermatology

|November 1, 1987

Summary

Mental activity, like solving math problems, reduced finger blood flow and pulse pressure while increasing heart rate. This suggests the sympathetic nervous system impacts blood flow even without significant stress.

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Area of Science:

Physiology
Autonomic Nervous System
Cardiovascular Regulation

Background:

Mental activity can influence physiological responses.
The autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary bodily functions, including blood flow and heart rate.
Cutaneous blood flow is controlled by both vasodilator and vasoconstrictor sympathetic fibers.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effects of non-stressful mental activity on cutaneous blood flow and cardiovascular responses.
To determine if mental tasks trigger autonomic-mediated changes in peripheral circulation.

Main Methods:

21 healthy subjects performed serial subtraction and multiplication orally for two 3-minute periods.
Physiological measurements included cutaneous blood flow, digital cutaneous pulse pressure, and heart rate.
A 22-minute rest interval separated the mental activity periods.

Main Results:

Mental activity led to a significant decrease in finger cutaneous blood flow (to 59%) and digital cutaneous pulse pressure (to 62%).
Heart rate increased by 24% during mental activity.
Cutaneous blood flow in the malar region (vasodilator-controlled) showed no significant change.

Conclusions:

Mental activity, even when not overtly stressful, can induce vasoconstriction in areas regulated by sympathetic vasoconstrictor fibers.
Observed changes in finger blood flow, pulse pressure, and heart rate suggest an autonomic-mediated response to cognitive tasks.
These findings highlight the intricate connection between cognitive processes and the autonomic nervous system's control over cardiovascular function.

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