Detecting Cardiovascular Emotional Dampening: An Exploration of Emotional Dampening at Different Levels of Emotion Processing

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

James P. Loveless (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Background: Cardiovascular emotional dampening is the phrase used to describe the inverse relationship between blood pressure and emotional responsivity. The emotional dampening literature is limited , but the phenomenon is thought to be related to the development of cardiovascular disease. Little is known about the underlying mechanisms , course of development , or related behavioral consequences. Purpose: The present study sought to expand upon on the existing literature by replicating previous research findings , determining if emotional dampening is more easily detectable using a bottom-up emotion-related task rather than a top-down emotion-related task , and exploring how emotional dampening might be related to frontal asymmetry. Method: Eighty-four (51 women) healthy undergraduate students were asked to complete a series of self-report inventories related to state affect , alexithymia , behavioral avoidance , and behavioral approach. They were also asked to complete an initial 10 minute baseline recording of heart rate , blood pressure , respiration , and frontal cortical activity. Following the recording , participants completed two emotion-related tasks. Task 1 was a replication task , while Task 2 consisted of an implicit emotion processing trial and an explicit emotion processing trial. After the emotion-related tasks were completed , participants completed a final 10 minute recording of heart rate and respiration. Results: The present data provided some evidence for each hypothesis associated with the three main aims; however , there were some notable observed sex differences. Discussion: The present study sheds further light upon the complex nature of cardiovascular emotional dampening. Implications , limitations , and future directions are discussed.

Additional Information

Publication

Dissertation

Language: English

Date: 2017

Keywords

Emotional Dampening, Emotion Processing, Frontal Asymmetry, HRV

Subjects

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