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The cold pressor test: vascular and myocardial response patterns and their stability
P G Saab1, M M Llabre, B E Hurwitz
1Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables 33124.
Psychophysiology
|July 1, 1993
Summary
The cold pressor test reliably elicits cardiovascular responses. Forehead stimulation and limb immersion showed similar blood pressure changes, but differed in heart rate response, with limb immersion causing acceleration.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular physiology
- Human physiology
- Exercise physiology
Background:
- The cold pressor test (CPT) is a common method for studying autonomic cardiovascular regulation.
- Different CPT protocols exist, including forehead stimulation and limb immersion, but their comparative cardiovascular effects are not fully elucidated.
- Understanding these differences is crucial for consistent experimental design and interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cardiovascular response patterns elicited by three CPT variations: forehead stimulation, hand immersion, and foot immersion.
- To assess the reproducibility of these cardiovascular responses over a two-week interval.
- To identify site-specific differences in autonomic cardiovascular regulation during CPT.
Main Methods:
- Forty-two healthy young men participated in the study.
- Cardiovascular parameters including blood pressure, heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and systolic time intervals were measured at rest and during CPT.
- Three CPT conditions (forehead, hand, foot) were administered, with measurements repeated over a two-week interval to assess reliability.
Main Results:
- All CPT conditions induced pressor responses characterized by increased total peripheral resistance and decreased stroke volume.
- Heart rate responses varied: forehead stimulation showed no significant change, while hand and foot immersion led to significant heart rate acceleration.
- Cardiovascular responses to the CPT were reproducible across conditions and showed minimal attenuation over the two-week retest interval.
Conclusions:
- The CPT is a reliable method for assessing cardiovascular responses.
- Forehead stimulation and limb immersion protocols elicit distinct heart rate responses, suggesting differential sympathetic-parasympathetic modulation.
- These findings highlight the importance of specifying the CPT method in research and clinical settings to ensure accurate interpretation of cardiovascular reactivity.