Psychophysiological correlates of individual differences in patterns of hemodynamic reactivity

The present study delineates a method for the quantification of six hemodyn amic reactivity patterns, in response to a laboratory stressor, and examine s the psychophysiological correlates of individual differences in these pat terns. One hundred and ninety-four young adult men and women participated i n rest periods and two laboratory stressors, mental arithmetic and an anger recall interview. Measures were taken of blood pressure, heart rate, and c ardiac output, from which total peripheral resistance was derived, as well as state reports of feelings during the tasks. Six hemodynamic reactor patt erns were identified: Non-reactors, Mild Myocardials, Mild Vasculars, Myoca rdials, Vasculars, and Dual Reactors, each associated with a unique profile of cardiac output and total peripheral resistance change. Myocardial react ors to the interview had the highest resting levels of blood pressure and t otal peripheral resistance. Dual reactors had the largest increases in dias tolic reactivity; Dual and Myocardial reactors had the largest increases in systolic reactivity. The extreme reactor groups (Dual, Myocardial, Vascula r) all reported greater task invigoration than the Non-reactors, who report ed greater efforts to relax. Reactor groups were similar on anger-related t rait affect. Based on both resting blood pressure and magnitude of task-ind uced reactivity, Myocardial and Dual reactors may be at the greatest risk f or subsequent hypertension. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.