Hypnotic manipulation of effort sense during dynamic exercise: cardiovascular responses and brain activation

Citation
Jw. Williamson et al., Hypnotic manipulation of effort sense during dynamic exercise: cardiovascular responses and brain activation, J APP PHYSL, 90(4), 2001, pp. 1392-1399
Citations number
38
Categorie Soggetti
Physiology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
ISSN journal
87507587 → ACNP
Volume
90
Issue
4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
1392 - 1399
Database
ISI
SICI code
8750-7587(200104)90:4<1392:HMOESD>2.0.ZU;2-G
Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to hypnotically manipulate effort sen se during dynamic exercise and determine whether cerebral cortical structur es previously implicated in the central modulation of cardiovascular respon ses were activated. Six healthy volunteers (4 women, 2 men) screened for hi gh hypnotizability were studied on 3 separate days during constant-load exe rcise under three hypnotic conditions involving cycling on a 1) perceived l evel grade, 2) perceived downhill grade, and 3) perceived uphill grade. Rat ings of perceived exertion (RPE), heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) distributions for several sites were c ompared across conditions using an analysis of variance. The suggestion of downhill cycling decreased both the RPE [from 13 +/- 2 to 11 +/- 2 (SD) uni ts; P < 0.05] and rCBF in the left insular cortex and anterior cingulate co rtex, but it did not alter exercise HR or BP responses. Perceived uphill cy cling elicited significant increases in RPE (from 13 +/- 2 to 14 +/- 1 unit s), HR (+16 beats/min), mean BP (+7 mmHg), right insular activation (+7.7 /- 4%), and right thalamus activation (+9.2 +/- 5%). There were no differen ces in rCBF for leg sensorimotor regions across conditions. These findings show that an increase in effort sense during constant-load exercise can act ivate both insular and thalamic regions and elevate cardiovascular response s but that decreases in effort sense do not reduce cardiovascular responses below the level required to sustain metabolic needs.