Autonomic activity and somatic symptoms in response to success vs. failure on a cognitive task: a comparison of chronic abdominal pain patients and well children.
OBJECTIVE
To compare autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and somatic symptoms in chronic abdominal pain (CAP) patients and well children during (a) resting baseline, (b) training in a cognitive task, and (c) random assignment to success vs. failure on the task.


METHODS
The ECG was continuously recorded with a dual lead system (Biopac) in 45 CAP patients and 22 well children, ages 9-16 years (mean age=12.3). Heart rate variability (HRV) was analyzed during the 5-min resting baseline, training, and success/failure on the task. Performance expectations were assessed before the task. Gastrointestinal (GI) and non-GI somatic symptoms were assessed before and after the task.


RESULTS
Compared to well children, CAP patients reported lower expectations for their task performance and higher GI symptoms (P's<.05). During success, CAP patients exhibited significant increases in both sympathetic (P<.05) and parasympathetic (P<.05) activity, whereas well children exhibited no change in ANS activity. During failure, CAP patients exhibited significant increases in somatic symptoms (<.05) but no change in ANS activity.


CONCLUSIONS
The lower performance expectations of CAP patients compared to well children may have influenced their experience of success and contributed to differences in their autonomic activity.
Puzanovova
Martina
M
Department of Pediatrics/Division of Adolescent Medicine and Behavioral Science, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA. martina.puzanovova@vanderbilt.edu
Arbogast
Patrick G
PG
Smith
Craig A
CA
Anderson
Julia
J
Diedrich
André
A
Walker
Lynn S
LS
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000294:innervation; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology
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