The association of cardiac vagal control and executive functioning – Findings from the MIDUS study

The association of cardiac vagal control and executive functioning – Findings from the MIDUS study

Abstract Cardiac vagal control (CVC), an index of parasympathetic contribution to cardiac regulation, has been linked to enhanced executive functioning (EF). However, findings to date have been based on small or unique samples. Additionally, previous studies assessed the CVC–EF link only during rest...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of psychiatric research Vol. 47; no. 5; pp. 628 - 635
Main Authors: Kimhy, D, Crowley, O.V, McKinley, P.S, Burg, M.M, Lachman, M.E, Tun, P.A, Ryff, C.D, Seeman, T.E, Sloan, R.P
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2013
Elsevier
Subjects:
Aged
Analysis of Variance
Attention
Autonomic nervous system
Autonomic regulation
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiac vagal control
Clinical research
Cognitive functioning
Electrocardiography
Executive function
Executive Function - physiology
Executive functioning
Female
Functional Laterality
Heart Rate - physiology
Heart rate variability
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Memory
Memory, Short-Term
Middle Aged
Midlife
Neuropsychological Tests
Parasympathetic
Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Reaction times
Recovery
Regulation
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia
Rest - physiology
United States
Vagus Nerve - physiology
Verbal Behavior
United States
Parasympathetic
Cognitive functioning
Memory
Cardiac vagal control
Executive functioning
Heart rate variability
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia
Autonomic regulation
Executive function
Cognition
Heart rate
Autonomic nervous system
Hemodynamics
Parasympathetic nervous system
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Cardiac vagal control (CVC), an index of parasympathetic contribution to cardiac regulation, has been linked to enhanced executive functioning (EF). However, findings to date have been based on small or unique samples. Additionally, previous studies assessed the CVC–EF link only during rest or recovery period from a cognitive challenge, but not during both states. In the present study, data on 817 socioeconomically diverse participants were obtained from the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) study. As part of this study, participants completed cognitive tests, including EF, along with laboratory-based measures of CVC during rest and following recovery from a cognitive challenge. Regression analyses adjusting for respiratory rate revealed no effect of CVC at rest or during recovery on a global index of EF. However, exploratory post-hoc analyses of the components of the global EF index revealed a significant association between faster vagal recovery and better attention-switching and response inhibition abilities, as indexed by faster reaction time to the mixed SGST. This association remained significant after controlling for demographic, clinical (BMI, diseases and medications altering cardiac autonomic functioning, etc.), and health behavior covariates (Beta = .148, p  = .010). Our findings suggest that future studies may need to investigate the links of CVC to specific EF abilities, rather than global measures of EF. Additionally, our results highlight the importance of assessing CVC during both rest and recovery from a cognitive challenge. The authors discuss the putative neurobiological underpinning of this link, as well as suggestions for future basic and clinical research.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ObjectType-Article-2
ObjectType-Feature-1
ISSN:0022-3956
1879-1379
DOI:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2013.01.018