title: Blink reflex in subjects with different hypnotizability: New findings for an old debate.
abstract: Hypnotizability is associated with attentional characteristics whose neurophysiological bases are still under debate. Aim of the study was the assessment of possible hypnotizability-related differences in blink reflex (BR) which has a nociceptive component, is sensitive to attentional-emotional traits and states and is modulated by the brain dopamine content. In 10 high (highs) and 10 low hypnotizable participants (lows) BR was induced by electrical nociceptive stimulation of the right supraorbital nerve in the absence (noW) and in the presence of a visual cue preceding the electrical stimulation by 0.1ms (W01) and by 1ms (W1). The studied variables were: the amplitude of BR components (R1, R2, R3), the amplitude of the quick change (TO) of heart rate ("turbulence") induced by stimulation and its recovery slope (TS), the role of the Behavioral Inhibition/Activation System (BIS/BAS) in the variability BR and cardiac turbulence. Repeated measures ANOVA did not show any significant difference between highs and lows in blink reflex. TO indicated stimulation related HR increase in highs and decrease in lows, TS was larger in highs. BIS and BAS accounted for the warning effects on the BR amplitude and modulated the hypnotizability and warning effects on TO and TS. Findings do not support dopamine based hypnotizability-related attentional abilities. In contrast, they indicate that hypnotizability modulates the short-lasting cardiac response to electrical nociceptive stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Pisa University, Italy. Electronic address: enricals@dfb.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Enrica L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Santarcangelo
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Pisa University, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Briscese
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Pisa University, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capitani
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Pisa University, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Orsini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa National Council of Research, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varanini
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Pisa University, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Pisa University, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Carboncini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: BISBAS; Blink reflex; Dopamine; Heart turbulence; Hypnotizability; Sensorimotor integration