title: Reduced baroreflex cardiac sensitivity predicts increased cognitive performance.
abstract: Abstract This study evaluated the relationship between baroreceptor reflex sensitivity and cognitive performance. Twenty normal subjects performed the Uchida-Kraepelin test, a serial arithmetic task. Baroreceptor reflex sensitivity during a 5-min Uchida-Kraepelin test was assessed in minute periods by spectral analysis using the maximum-entropy method. During the task, baroreceptor reflex sensitivity was significantly reduced. There was an inverse between-subjects association between baroreceptor reflex sensitivity and the level of performance (number of additions completed) both at different time periods of the Uchida-Kraepelin test and during the whole task (r=-.51). This finding supports the existence of a pathway mediating mutual cardiovascular-central nervous system influences through the baroreceptors, establishing an essential mechanism facilitating adaptive reactions to stressful conditions.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medical Technology, School of Health Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan. t-yasu@health.uoeh-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tomiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasumasu
authors.forename: Gustavo A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Reyes Del Paso
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahara
authors.forename: Yasuhide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakashima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology