Similar patterns of cardiovascular response during emotional activation asa function of affective valence and arousal and gender

Objective: Laboratory studies of emotion-induced cardiovascular responses h ave been conducted predominantly with a specific affects approach rather th an a dimensional approach. The purpose of this study was to apply the princ iples of the Circumplex Model of Affect (i.e., valence and arousal) to inve stigate cardiovascular reactivity during emotional activation in men and wo men. Methods: Forty-two healthy university students (mean age =19.45, 52% w omen, 58% Caucasian) engaged in personally relevant recall tasks that varie d as a function of valence and arousal. Self-reported valence and arousal, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively), heart ra te (HR), preejection period (PEP), stroke index (SI), cardiac index (CI), a nd total peripheral resistance (TPR) were measured during baseline and task periods. Results: Cardiovascular responses were found to be largely compar able across the recall tasks and were characterized by significant increase s in blood pressure, HR, and TPR, and decreases in SI (Ps < .001). In addit ion, SEP during negative valence tasks was significantly higher than during positive valence tasks (P < .03), and PEP lengthened more during low as co mpared to high arousal tasks (P < .03). Conclusions: These results highligh t the similarity of hemodynamic adjustments during the verbal expression of emotion across gender and the dimensions of valence and arousal. The overa ll response pattern suggests alpha -adrenergically mediated sympathetic act ivation and vagal withdrawal. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights res erved.