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Activity of the positive and negative reinforcement motivation systems and baseline arterial blood pressure in humans

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Abstract

The aim of the present work was to identify possible associations between individual balances in the activity of the positive and negative reinforcement motivation systems using a method based on emotional modulation of the startle reaction (EMSR) by motivationally significant emotionally positive and negative contextual visual stimuli and measures of cardiovascular system activity. Studies were performed using healthy males (mean age 30.29 ± 9.8 years) with normal and first-episode excessive increases in arterial blood pressure (systolic blood pressure to greater than 140 mmHg, diastolic to greater than 90 mmHg). Cluster analysis of EMSR data identified groups of individuals with different activity profiles for the positive and negative reinforcement systems. Groups of subjects with changes in the balance of activity towards a lower level of positive reinforcement system activity (smaller startle reflexes to positive contextual stimuli) or a higher level of negative reinforcement system activity (larger startle reactions to threatening contextual stimuli) showed significantly greater baseline SBP and DBP. The possible mechanisms of the modulatory influences of the balance of system activities on autonomic vascular regulatory processes are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychophysiology Laboratory, State Research Institute of Physiology, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, 4 Timakov Street, 630117, Novosibirsk, Russia

    L. I. Aftanas, P. V. Sidorova, S. V. Pavlov, V. P. Makhnev, V. V. Korenek & N. V. Reva

  2. Neurogenomics Laboratory, State Science Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch, 10 Academician Lavrent’ev Prospekt, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia

    T. G. Amstislavskaya

Authors
  1. L. I. Aftanas
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  2. P. V. Sidorova
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  3. S. V. Pavlov
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  4. V. P. Makhnev
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  6. N. V. Reva
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  7. T. G. Amstislavskaya
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Translated from Rossiiskii Fiziologicheskii Zhurnal imeni I. M. Sechenova, Vol. 93, No. 12, pp. 1362–1373, December, 2007.

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Aftanas, L.I., Sidorova, P.V., Pavlov, S.V. et al. Activity of the positive and negative reinforcement motivation systems and baseline arterial blood pressure in humans. Neurosci Behav Physi 38, 799–806 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-008-9049-7

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