title: Blunted cardiac stress reactors exhibit relatively high levels of behavioural impulsivity.
abstract: Blunted physiological reactions to acute psychological stress are associated with a range of adverse health and behavioural outcomes. This study examined whether extreme stress reactors differ in their behavioural impulsivity. Individuals showing blunted (N=23) and exaggerated (N=23) cardiovascular reactions to stress were selected by screening a healthy student population (N=276). Behavioural impulsivity was measured via inhibitory control and motor impulsivity tasks. Blunted reactors exhibited greater impulsivity than exaggerated reactors on both stop-signal, F(1,41)=4.99, p=0.03, ηp(2)=0.108, and circle drawing, F(1,43)=4.00, p=0.05, η p(2)=0.085, tasks. Individuals showing blunted cardiovascular stress reactions are characterized by greater impulsivity which may contribute to their increased susceptibility to outcomes such as obesity and addiction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom; School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Electronic address: abibbey1@aol.com.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bibbey
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Annie T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Ginty
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Brindle
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anna C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carroll
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cardiovascular activity; Impulsivity; Psychological stress; Stress reactivity