Abstract

RODRIGUEZ MEDINA, David Alberto et al. Psychophysiological effects of diaphragmatic breathing and thermal stimulation on the autonomic activity of acute stress. Acta de investigación psicol [online]. 2018, vol.8, n.2, pp.101-113. ISSN 2007-4719.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fpsi.20074719e.2018.2.09.

Recent studies have evaluated the psychophysiological effects of acute stress, diaphragmatic breathing (DB) and cutaneous thermal stimulation. The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) paradigm has been used as a laboratory test to induce stress; however, it does not have an active reversal phase of the effects it induces. The present investigation had two objectives: 1) to evaluate the effect of DB on autonomic activity and inflammatory response after TSST; and 2) explore the effect of thermal stimulation to inhibit autonomic activity during and after TSST. A quasi-experimental design of repeated measures was used for each objective. Twenty-two university students, normotensive and clinically healthy participated. Psychometric measures of psychological distress (PHQ-4, PC-PTSD) were applied, their blood pressure, heart rate, nasal temperature and on the finger of the left hand were recorded, as well as a salivary sample of interleukin 6 (inflammatory sensitive cytokine to the physical and affective alteration of the organism). They were divided into two sub-groups of 11 participants each. The first group he was administered the TSST protocol and then they were instructed an DB exercise; while the second group held with their hands a thermal compress at a temperature of about 41 ° C during and after the TSST. The results suggested that DR decreased autonomic activity, but not inflammatory activity; while the group with thermal stimulation inhibited the autonomic activity during and after the TSST. These findings are discussed in the context of the Polivagal Theory as psychological strategies to diminish and inhibit the psychophysiological effects of acute stress.

Keywords : TSST; Thermal stimulation; Peripheral temperatura; Blood pressure; IL-6.

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