CARDIOVASCULAR-BEHAVIORAL INTERACTION - AS IT APPEARS TODAY

Research is reviewed concerning the interrelationships among cardiodynamics, blood pressure control mechanisms, somatic activity and the stimulus parameter of active vs. passive coping in several species including man, cats, dogs, rabbits and rats. Emerging evidence suggests that with passive coping such as classical aversive conditioning, the heart is more under vagal control which is directionally linked with somatic activity, while blood pressure is more dominated by vascular processes. With active coping such as shock avoidance, the heart is under greater sympathetic control which is directionally independent of concomitant somatic activity, while cardiac influences on blood pressure become more dominant. Several current psychophysiological issues are discussed including the possible significance of these effects for cardiovascular disease processes.