Investigating the Interaction of Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System Under Stress and Relaxation Using Guided Imagery

Thumbnail Image
Date
2023
Editors
Contact
Journal ISSN
Electronic ISSN
ISBN
Bibliographical data
Publisher
Series
DOI (citable link)
ArXiv-ID
International patent number
Link to the license
EU project number
Project
Open Access publication
Collections
Restricted until
Title in another language
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Publication type
Journal article
Publication status
Published
Published in
Psychological Research of Early Career Scientists ; 1 (2023), 1. - pp. 1-30. - University of Konstanz
Abstract
The autonomic nervous system and the neuroendocrine system enable the body to switch between states of “fight/flight/freeze” and of “rest/digest” when coping with stressors or during recovery. The “rest/digest” or "relaxation" response, is crucial for regeneration processes, physiological homeostasis, and sustainment of physiological and psychological health. Here we asked whether a chronically stressed state is associated with an absence of an autonomic physiological relaxation response after acute stress. To do this, we investigated the effects of a relaxation intervention in acutely stressed individuals on neuroendocrine and autonomic markers trying to illustrate the interaction of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Healthy participants (N = 71) completed the socially evaluated cold pressor test before receiving a relaxation induction consisting of diaphragmatic breathing and guided imagery. Heart rate, heart rate variability (continuous electrocardiogram), salivary cortisol and salivary alpha amylase (saliva samples) were assessed as biological stress and relaxation markers. Mixed ANOVAs revealed a significant effect of the socially evaluated cold pressor test on cortisol levels and subjective stress. Additionally, a significant effect of the relaxation intervention on heart rate variability and heart rate was revealed (all p < .001). No significant differences in the ratio of the reactivity of the autonomic branches under stress and relaxation were found. The study confirms a successful induction of a neuroendocrine stress response via the socially evaluated cold pressor test and a successful induction of autonomic relaxation using the relaxation induction. Methodological limitations and indications for future studies are discussed.
Summary in another language
Subject (DDC)
150 Psychology
Keywords
sympathetic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous system, guided imagery, diaphragmatic breathing, HPA, HRV
Conference
Review
undefined / . - undefined, undefined. - (undefined; undefined)
Cite This
ISO 690KLINK, Elea S. C., Jens C. PRUESSNER, 2023. Investigating the Interaction of Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System Under Stress and Relaxation Using Guided Imagery. In: Psychological Research of Early Career Scientists. University of Konstanz. 1(1), pp. 1-30
BibTex
@article{Klink2023Inves-59818,
  year={2023},
  title={Investigating the Interaction of Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System Under Stress and Relaxation Using Guided Imagery},
  url={https://ojs.ub.uni-konstanz.de/precs/index.php/precs/article/view/4},
  number={1},
  volume={1},
  journal={Psychological Research of Early Career Scientists},
  pages={1--30},
  author={Klink, Elea S. C. and Pruessner, Jens C.}
}
RDF
<rdf:RDF
    xmlns:dcterms="http://purl.org/dc/terms/"
    xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
    xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#"
    xmlns:bibo="http://purl.org/ontology/bibo/"
    xmlns:dspace="http://digital-repositories.org/ontologies/dspace/0.1.0#"
    xmlns:foaf="http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/"
    xmlns:void="http://rdfs.org/ns/void#"
    xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#" > 
  <rdf:Description rdf:about="https://kops.uni-konstanz.de/server/rdf/resource/123456789/59818">
    <dc:rights>terms-of-use</dc:rights>
    <dc:language>eng</dc:language>
    <dcterms:available rdf:datatype="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime">2023-01-19T10:06:20Z</dcterms:available>
    <dspace:isPartOfCollection rdf:resource="https://kops.uni-konstanz.de/server/rdf/resource/123456789/43"/>
    <dc:date rdf:datatype="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime">2023-01-19T10:06:20Z</dc:date>
    <dcterms:issued>2023</dcterms:issued>
    <dcterms:abstract xml:lang="eng">The autonomic nervous system and the neuroendocrine system enable the body to switch between states of “fight/flight/freeze” and of “rest/digest” when coping with stressors or during recovery. The “rest/digest” or "relaxation" response, is crucial for regeneration processes, physiological homeostasis, and sustainment of physiological and psychological health. Here we asked whether a chronically stressed state is associated with an absence of an autonomic physiological relaxation response after acute stress. To do this, we investigated the effects of a relaxation intervention in acutely stressed individuals on neuroendocrine and autonomic markers trying to illustrate the interaction of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Healthy participants (N = 71) completed the socially evaluated cold pressor test before receiving a relaxation induction consisting of diaphragmatic breathing and guided imagery. Heart rate, heart rate variability (continuous electrocardiogram), salivary cortisol and salivary alpha amylase (saliva samples) were assessed as biological stress and relaxation markers. Mixed ANOVAs revealed a significant effect of the socially evaluated cold pressor test on cortisol levels and subjective stress. Additionally, a significant effect of the relaxation intervention on heart rate variability and heart rate was revealed (all p &lt; .001). No significant differences in the ratio of the reactivity of the autonomic branches under stress and relaxation were found. The study confirms a successful induction of a neuroendocrine stress response via the socially evaluated cold pressor test and a successful induction of autonomic relaxation using the relaxation induction. Methodological limitations and indications for future studies are discussed.</dcterms:abstract>
    <dcterms:hasPart rdf:resource="https://kops.uni-konstanz.de/bitstream/123456789/59818/1/Klink_2-1hajzkicqc1f97.pdf"/>
    <bibo:uri rdf:resource="https://kops.uni-konstanz.de/handle/123456789/59818"/>
    <dc:creator>Pruessner, Jens C.</dc:creator>
    <dcterms:isPartOf rdf:resource="https://kops.uni-konstanz.de/server/rdf/resource/123456789/43"/>
    <void:sparqlEndpoint rdf:resource="http://localhost/fuseki/dspace/sparql"/>
    <dc:contributor>Klink, Elea S. C.</dc:contributor>
    <dc:contributor>Pruessner, Jens C.</dc:contributor>
    <foaf:homepage rdf:resource="http://localhost:8080/"/>
    <dcterms:title>Investigating the Interaction of Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System Under Stress and Relaxation Using Guided Imagery</dcterms:title>
    <dcterms:rights rdf:resource="https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/"/>
    <dc:creator>Klink, Elea S. C.</dc:creator>
    <dspace:hasBitstream rdf:resource="https://kops.uni-konstanz.de/bitstream/123456789/59818/1/Klink_2-1hajzkicqc1f97.pdf"/>
  </rdf:Description>
</rdf:RDF>
Internal note
xmlui.Submission.submit.DescribeStep.inputForms.label.kops_note_fromSubmitter
Contact
Test date of URL
2023-01-19
Examination date of dissertation
Method of financing
Comment on publication
Alliance license
Corresponding Authors der Uni Konstanz vorhanden
International Co-Authors
Bibliography of Konstanz
Yes
Refereed
No