[Behavior, sympathetic nervous system, and arterial hypertension].
The discharge of sympathetic and vagal outflows appears regulated, in general, by a reciprocal interaction, that is to say that the increased activity of one component is accompanied by the decreased activity of the other. A sympathetic excitation can depend on central neural mechanisms, on peripheral excitatory reflexes and on a reduced inhibition exerted by inhibitory reflex mechanisms. Behavioral studies can reveal conditions associated with an increased sympathetic activity and with an augmented arterial pressure. The use of a spectral methodology applied to the study of cardiovascular variability allows the quantification, on the whole, of the state of sympatho-vagal balance: in the course of essential arterial hypertension this equilibrium appears shifted towards a sympathetic predominance.
Malliani
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Medicina Interna II, Università degli Studi, Ospedale L Sacco, Milano.
D001519:Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*
Comportamento, sistema nervoso simpatico e ipertensione arteriosa.