Influence of smoking and gender on diurnal variations of heart rate reactivity in humans.
We evaluated the influence of smoking and gender on diurnal variations of heart rate reactivity during performance of two vigilance tasks (auditory and visual) and a working memory task. Heart rate was measured hourly (08:00-21:00 h) at rest and during performance tasks in 20 smokers (ten men, ten women) and 20 non-smokers (ten men, ten women). Smoking and gender influenced reactivity only at certain times, especially at the earliest and latest hours and during the post-lunch period. Smokers displayed major post-lunch interference and a pattern of lowered stress in the second half of the day. Women showed greater reactivity at the first daily recording, although their levels later became similar to the men's and were even lower. The statement that women are myocardial hyperreactors must be further investigated, as it seems women may take longer than men to adapt to a task.
Adan
A
A
Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron 171, 08035, Barcelona, Spain. aadan@psi.ub.es
Sánchez-Turet
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology
D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine