title: Effects of the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT) with different rates on autonomic nervous system responses and self-reported levels of stress.
abstract: To characterise self-reported levels of stress and autonomic responses in healthy humans evoked by different rates of the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT). Fifteen participants performed PASATs with different rates (3·6-, 2·4-, 1·6- or 1·2-s intervals) and a control task, in random order. Correct responses, self-reported levels of stress and autonomic responses to the PASATs were estimated. Increased PASAT rates were associated with decreases in correct responses (P < 0·001) and increases in self-reported levels of stress (P < 0·001). For autonomic responses, significant changes were seen in 10 variables during 2·4-s PASAT compared with the respective baseline; however, significant differences in relative changes from baseline were found between the 2·4-s PASAT and control task only for mean RR-intervals (P < 0·001), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P = 0·002 and P = 0·006) and cardiac output (P < 0·001). Regarding comparison between the four PASATs, significant differences in the relative changes from baseline were seen between the 3·6-s PASAT and faster PASATs, for example mean RR-intervals, high-frequency power and respiration rate; however, there were no differences between the faster PASATs. The autonomic responses during the PASATs with different rates were quite similar for the faster PASATs (intervals < 2·4 s); however, the slowest 3·6-s PASAT evoked significantly less self-reported stress and autonomic arousal compared with the faster PASATs. Standardization of the PASAT rate may be important for studies on autonomic nervous system function and self-reported measures of stress. Future studies may test more complex interactions between stress, autonomic responses and pain responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Crown and Bridge Prosthodontics, Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanosoto
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Bendixen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arima
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Terkelsen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Svensson
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task; autonomic nervous system; chronic pain; heart rate variability; stress; temporomandibular disorders